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Growing up in California in the '70s and '80s was pure gold. I was raised by a strong, single mom who forged her own path and gave my sister and me the freedom to explore and, occasionally, take a chance or two as we built a world around us that may have included a skateboard ramp that would have been red-flagged if an inspector passed by! I will never forget the day that we loaded up the truck in 1972 and moved into our childhood home that my mom had just purchased. She was incredibly proud on this day, as she should be. Her face said it all, and I will never forget what that meant to me as a 7-year-old boy.
These homeowner dreams stayed with me as I entered adulthood and carved my way through the fashion industry after college. I saved what I could with one goal in mind—to buy a home. If my mom could do it, so could I. A few years had passed, and the time came to buy my first house in my mid-20s, and it was my proudest moment. I knew this would give my life meaning and purpose, and someday, I would create a life where my future kids would feel the same pride.
1995 was the year I moved to Marin County. I now called Mill Valley home and knew that if I were to get married and have kids, this would be the place to be. Well, 31 years later, my wife and I are celebrating our two beautiful girls as they dive into their studies at UCLA and LMU (lifelong Giants fans, by the way) and know this place we call home has given them the unique perspective that will serve them well into adulthood. If you live here, you know the goodness of Marin and all the beauty and humanity that comes with it...
I will never forget how special life is here and all the opportunities that lie in front of us. I have a deep belief in volunteerism and have had the privilege to coach kids who play softball for almost two decades. I served as the president of Mill Valley Softball for many years and continue to serve on the board, as well as organize field prep at Hauke Park and Tam Valley Elementary. Tough work, but seeing that straight chalk line down to first base is strangely satisfying! My proudest moment (outside of marrying my wife, Susannah, and the birth of our two girls) was having an award named after me in the softball community. The "Positive Pete" award is given to an athlete on each softball team at the end of the season who demonstrates kindness, effort, empathy, and joy for the game. It is an honor that I will never forget...
In addition to coaching, surfing Ocean Beach during the fall and winter months keeps me young, and traveling to places like Baja, CA, and Japan will always hold an important place in my heart.