John Peck, Pasadena, CA

John Darwin Peck, beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2024 in Pasadena, California, after a short illness related to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 83 years old. Born February 13, 1941 and raised in Los Angeles, California, John attended Mount Carmel High School and pursued higher education at the University of San Diego and Loyola Marymount University, graduating in 1963 with degrees in English and Journalism. He continued his studies while serving in the United States Air Force, earning a degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Utah. John was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving as a Captain from 1963 – 1969, including 4 years when he was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. After returning with his family from Germany in 1969 John began his long and distinguished career in estate planning and probate law after earning his JD from Loyola University.Throughout his 48-year career as a Probate Attorney in Pasadena, working for the Superior Court of Los Angeles and then in private practice, John was regularly acknowledged as a top attorney by Pasadena Magazine. He also served as a Judge pro-tem for the Pasadena Superior Court and taught law classes at Pasadena City College. He was always willing to share his expertise on the nuances of the law with his colleagues and fellow attorneys, earning him their respect for his deep knowledge in the practice areas of probate, wills, trusts and estate planning law as well as his integrity and his commitment to service. He made significant contributions to a long list of professional and service organizations: as a 20-year member of the Tournament of Roses (walking the parade many New Year’s days overseeing float and equestrian entries), as a member and President of the University Club of Pasadena, as an active member of Pasadena Rotary and chair of their Rose Parade Float Committee, as member, Treasurer, Vice President and President of the Pasadena Bar Association, as board member and President of the HEAR Center, as President of both the San Gabriel Valley Lawyer Referral Service and the Fiduciary Roundtable of San Gabriel Valley, and as a board member for both the Huntington Senior Care Network and Legal Services Program for San Gabriel-Pomona Valley. He was also an active member of the Clampers and Optimists Club of Pasadena. John’s true joys were his family and biking with the Crown City Cyclists. Over the last 25-plus years John ‘wheeled’ his way across California, Oregon, Vermont, Iowa and Europe, completing numerous long distance rides, including Cycle Oregon, RAGBRAI (the great ride across Iowa) five times, the Wildflower, Cool Breeze and Lighthouse Century rides, and joining the Crown City Cyclists on cycling trips through Quebec, Victoria, British Columbia, Salzburg, Austria, the Italian Dolomites, the backroads of Ireland, and the hills of Puglia, Italy. At the core, John was a gifted artist, expressing his creativity through drawings, photographs, woodworking, and wood turnings. He was deeply committed to his craft, studying with master woodworker Sam Maloof and the American Association of Woodturners, being an active member of the El Camino and Glendale Woodturner associations and assembling an extensive collection of books and tools. His beautifully crafted bowls, platters and even hand-turned pens remain as a reminder of his skill and artistry. John will be fondly remembered for his love for family and friends, his professional expertise, his generosity in serving his community, his kindness to all, and his wry wit. He leaves behind a legacy of service and friendship.He is survived by his devoted wife Patrice, his loving children Kathleen and John, and his cherished grandchildren, Clare, Patrick, Johnny, Wesley and Jasmine. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.