Peter Spallas

Peter James Spallas passed away in his sleep at home on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at the age of 89. His passing was peaceful and painless, with his family at his side. Peter was born in San Francisco, California to Greek immigrants Panayiotis and Dimitri Spallas. He was the oldest of four children. Peter loved football and played at Sacred Heart High School and later at Lincoln High School in San Francisco. After graduation, Peter worked as a groceries clerk at Mt. Davidson Market. After receiving his selective service number on his 20th birthday, he volunteered for service in the United States Marine Corps. Young Private First-Class Peter saw combat with the 3rd Marines in 1953 near Incheon on the west coast of Korean. His time on the Korean peninsula was cut short when his fire team engaged a North Korean tank. Peter was seriously injured and was evacuated to a MASH unit. He spent time recuperating in Japan, Hawaii, and finally Oak Knoll Naval Hospital where he recovered from his wounds. Peter loved to tell the story about how, because of the severity of his wounds, a bit of medical malpractice, and a sympathetic priest, he was retired from the Marine Corps on Halloween, 1953, with the rank of private first class while still in the hospital. He served in the Marine Corps for 1 year, 8 months, and 7 days. He spent eight of those months in the hospital. Peter spent the next two years living in his San Francisco home and working at the market unaware that the love of his life was working nearby at Crown Zellerbach. Peter met Pari at a Greek dance on Union Street. To say they fell in love would be an understatement. This was much more. Peter's enduring love and dedication to Pari would prove to be extraordinary. They married in 1956 in San Francisco. The newlyweds moved into an SF apartment on Vidal Drive. Peter continued work at the market while attending City College of San Francisco earning his AA in 1958. The young couple moved to Corvallis, Oregon where Peter completed his electrical engineering degree at Oregon State University in 1961. They returned to the Bay Area with their first born, James, and Paul and Kristina soon followed. Peter and Pari put down roots in 1962 among the apricot orchards and ranches in Cupertino, California. Peter took a job at Varian Associates as an Electrical Engineer. That job would last thirty years and see him rise to the position of Vice President and General Manager of the Couple Cavity Tube Division. Peter fell in love with racing cars when he came home one day with a baby blue 1963 Alpha Romero Sprint Veloce. He promptly modified it for racing and headed to the track. The "Italian Junk Pile" could be heard a mile away; even farther for the family dog Zorba who would run to the door to greet Peter before the sound was audible to the rest of the family. Peter's love-hate relationship with his junk pile developed into a predictable cycle: race, blow head gasket, winch up the engine from the garage rafters, repair, clean engine parts in dishwasher, repeat. The Alpha eventually suffered its last blown gasket and became a large baby blue storage bin. After retirement in 1993, the couple set off to see the world. Peter, being the more reluctant traveler, lovingly went wherever Pari would lead him. They crisscrossed Europe, then headed west to see Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Whether touring the Cyclades, boating up the Yangzi, racing through the streets of downtown Rome, dinning in Tokyo, or exploring the Great Barrier Reef, Peter was there with Pari in love and enjoying life. In 2002, Peter and Pari move to Chico, California and into their dream home built on a golf course lovingly designed by their son in-law David Rogers. Peter joined the country club and enjoyed endless rounds of golf with friends and family. Getting in a twilight round during the warm Chico summers with his sons was magical. Peter developed into a great cook eventually taking over all the culinary duties from Pari. His scratch-made burgers, omelets, Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas roast beef are legendary. Peter and Pari became well known and well-loved in Chico. Peter's easy-going smile, sense of humor, and good nature made it easy for him to make new friends; and he made a lot of them. Peter lost the love of his life on June 15, 2018. His unwavering devotion to Pari during her six-year struggle with illness was an extraordinary act of love. Peter missed her deeply every day after her passing. Peter is survived and much loved by his sons James and Paul (Belinda), daughter Kristina (David), and grandchildren Gregory, Mathew, and Alexa. He also leaves his sister Presvytera Evelyn Adams, and many cherished nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his wife, Pari Spallas, brother Bill Spallas and sister Diamond Boubolus. Peter will be remembered as a devoted husband, loving Father and Papou, older brother, wise uncle, generous friend, proud Marine, and a good man. He is missed. May his memory be eternal.