After valiantly fighting several health issues, Tom Lindsay Peters of Laguna Beach, CA, died Saturday, September 5, 2020. Born in 1951 in Sac City, Iowa, Tom was raised primarily in Palos Verdes, CA. He attended UC/Santa Barbara graduating in 1973 with one of the first degrees granted in environmental planning and began a lifelong career at the consulting engineering firm of CH2M HILL in their Portland, Oregon office.
In 1993, Tom transferred to Orange County where he met his wife, Joy. They married in 1997 and have resided in Laguna Beach since then. He ended his professional career as Senior Vice President in charge of the Western Region. He was an inspiration to those he worked with and mentored largely because his visionary leadership was tempered with compassion, laughter, and integrity.
While living in Portland, when still a young man, Tom developed renal failure and when his first transplant failed, he served on a committee that helped reform national organ transplant policy. After ten years on dialysis, Tom received a new kidney, fondly named Sidney, which lasted an incredible 30 years, well beyond expectation.
Tom was known for his optimistic outlook, calm demeanor, and a warm and humorous presence. He credited his serene disposition to his 47-year meditation practice. He inspired others to live life to the fullest. Aware that he was on ‘borrowed time’ and being an intrepid traveler, Tom retired at 56 to pursue this passion. He visited all 50 states, SCUBA dove around the world with Joy, and visited over 40 countries. One of his most adventurous trips was to the Grand Kumbh Mela in India, sleeping in tents with naked yogis and was one of 22 million who took a purification dip in the Ganges River.
Tom fished every summer in Alaska with his brother and Joy, zip-lined at the Arenal Volcano on one of his many trips to Costa Rica and raced above the clouds in a beat-up rental car in the Ecuadorean Andes. More recently, though his health was declining, Tom climbed to the top of the highest temple in Angor Wat and hiked out to the Iguazu Falls viewing platforms in Argentina and Brazil.
In addition to his passion for travel, Tom and Joy found time to support many Laguna Beach arts programs and charities, notably Laguna Dance Festival, Laguna Beach Seniors and Friendship Shelter.
Tom lit up a room with his exuberance and welcoming smile. He was generous in every aspect of his being and deeply loved by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Joy Dittberner, siblings Dr. Susan Peters, Steve Peters, and Deborah Pronk along with seven nieces and nephews.
Due to COVID and the risk of gathering, there is no service planned at this time.
Tom’s community of friends may give in his honor to the Thomas Lindsay Peters Memorial Fellowship Fund, a memorial endowment to provide support to graduate students at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, a program he helped shape. He passionately believed that training future environmentalists is vital to the survival of our planet.
How do I contribute?
To support the Thomas Lindsay Peters Memorial Fellowship Fund honoring Tom’s legacy, you may donate online or by check:
To give online: Go to http://giving.ucsb.edu/to/Tom-Peters-Fellowship
To give by check: Make check payable to The UC Santa Barbara Foundation, noting in the memo line “Tom Peter’s Gift”, and mail to:
Attention: Beth Pitton-August, Bren School Director of Development
4219 Cheadle Hall
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2013
For questions, please contact Beth Pitton-August, Bren School Director of Development
beth@bren.ucsb.edu | 805.453.8266.