Eugene F. Peters

1931 - 2022

PETERS

EUGENE F. PETERS "Gene"

Gene, 91, died peacefully at his home in the early hours of June 1, 2022, following a magical evening of music with family and friends. The cause of death was metastatic prostate cancer.



Born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 10, 1931, Gene's life was one of vigor, vision, and profound collaboration. His lifetime association with the Benedictine monks began when, at age 10, his parents Olivia and Ed Peters sent him to board at Conception Abbey in northwest Missouri while they searched for work in Washington, DC after they lost the mortgage on their small family farm. In Washington he continued this association with his education at his much beloved St. Anselm's Priory (Class of '47).



Spurred on by fellow St. Anselm's graduate Robert Peloquin, Gene added two years to his age to join the Navy, where he served as a junior officer and good will ambassador basketball coach for the 6th fleet in the Mediterranean. He married his college sweetheart Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Drabek in 1951, attended law school at Catholic University on the GI bill, taking a job with Parke Davis Pharmaceuticals working with fellow Navy veteran and lifelong friend Howard Baroudi. After making the top spot on the Maryland Bar Examination, he started a law practice with engineer-lawyer Leonard (Chip) Mudd in Silver Spring Maryland, and under the tutelage of fellow Young Dem Doris Solomon, engaged actively in local Maryland politics.



Gene jumped to the national political stage in the early 1960s when he began working with Texas congressman and formidable legislator Jack Brooks. Working for Congressman Brooks first as his Staff Director, then as Director of three successive congressional committees, he was instrumental in modernizing the U.S. Congress, introducing the prototype of C-Span onto the House floor, the personal computer into the congressional offices, and organizing the congressional personnel office. Along the way, he (with two other staff members) drafted the language ultimately used by the House Judiciary to impeach Richard Nixon.



Retiring from federal service in 1981, Gene joined the law practice of Teddy Burwell, Walter Hansen, and (eventually) Stuart Houston. At the same time, he (with others including dear friends Sharon Matts and Rick & Sharon Barnes) established the Independent Bank of Manassas, and, with Ms. Matts, started an international consulting company, Axxon Group.



The work of Axxon Group took a sharp shift when, inspired by Italian teacher Roseangela Di Manto, Gene took up part-time residence in Parma Italy in 1995. From thence, Gene developed cultural exchanges between Parma and the U.S., working with gifted artists and teachers Chuck Olson and Michael Madigan to bring U.S. students to Parma. Ultimately the exchanges broadened into the music field, with Italian virtuoso guitarist Paolo Schianchi working with American jazz great Davey Yarborough to meld the classical guitar with the jazz scene. With Michael Madigan, Gene also set up Aisling Group, a nonprofit gallery in D.C. presenting art shows to benefit various philanthropic causes.



Of all his many collaborations, however, Gene was most proud of his collaboration with his wife of nearly 60 years, Betty, who predeceased him in 2010. Together they had four children, all of whom survive: Nancy Peters Maude (Michael) of Washington, DC; Dr. Edward Peters (Sheila) of Austin, Texas; Eugene F. Peters, Jr (Kris) of Deale Beach, Maryland; and the Honorable Charles Peters (Debbie) of Baltimore, Maryland. He was also immensely proud of his grandchildren Drayden, Gene III, Andrew, Eleanor, Brett, Collin, and Annie as well as his great-granddaughter Sophia and his Honorary Granddaughter Anne Swift.



A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 17 at the St. Anselm's Abbey School Chapel, 4501 South Dakota Avenue NE, Washington, DC, at 11 a.m., with lunch to follow. All are welcome. Tutti sono benvenuti.