Peter James Touchstone

Peter grew up in Southern California - mainly Orange County - alongside his brothers Jacob Touchstone and Daniel DiAnda. He went to Tustin High School, where he left a legacy. As he was brought up to love camping and nature, Peter was interested in conservation and environmentalism. He even started a Greenpeace chapter at his school. Peter was also passionate about the arts, and was very involved in the Tustin High theater department. He directed and acted in several plays throughout his high school career, making his mark on the local theater scene. Peter had always been very charismatic and cool, not to mention one of the most interesting and well-read people you’d ever met. He had lots of friends and admirers at Tustin High, and was the life of the party. Needless to say, he’s always been well-loved.

There, Peter met Trang Le - whom he later married and had his only child with. Trang gave birth to a daughter they named Catherine Jeanette Sinh Touchstone, and Peter would go on to dote on her and teach her about the world for the rest of his life.

Peter was committed to showing Catherine all of life’s beauty and wonders, and to give her his gift of coolness. He took her camping, fishing, to museums, to concerts, and on thousands of adventures near and far - urban and rural. He showed her his favorite books, movies, TV shows, and musical artists - in which he of course had impossibly good taste. Some of their favorites together were the poetry of Charles Bukowski, the writings of JD Salinger, the movies of Baz Luhrman and Wes Anderson, any show that gave them a good belly laugh, and too many musicians and artists to count. They loved to listen to Fiona Apple, The Pixies, Pink Floyd, and Durand Jones and the Indications together, and even went to Coachella Music Festival together in 2005.

When he wasn’t parenting, Peter still never had a problem finding ways to explore the world and enjoy all of its gifts. He loved going to different national parks and campsites, traveling nationally and internationally with his friends and family, following the Grateful Dead on their US tours, and continuing to direct and act in plays. He also got his brother Jacob to teach him and Catherine how to play the guitar, and he loved to jam with them and learn songs together.

Throughout his adulthood, Peter continued to retain his title as one of the most interesting men in the world. He lived in the mountains of Northern California in the town of Rough and Ready, where he communed with the trees, started a band, and got a Golden Doodle Puppy named Oscar - who was nearly as popular as Peter. He lived for several years in the heart of West Hollywood, and loved to show his loved ones the best concert venues, record stores, Jewish delis, museums, and scenic spots that Los Angeles had to offer. He spent a lot of time vacationing in Spain and England, where he had made great friends and had great times. He also was part of a large group of old friends and knew that vacationed annually in Rosarito, Mexico. There they reveled together and enjoyed the beautiful scenery, delicious food, and danced and sang along to his many impeccable playlists.

Peter is undoubtedly singing and dancing in heaven with his grandfather William Moyes, grandmother Brenda Moyes, brother Jacob Touchstone, close friend Scott Seguin, and cutest companion Oscar the dog.

Peter is survived by his parents Jeanette DiAnda and Phillip Touchstone, his stepparents Steven DiAnda and Cathy Touchstone, his siblings Daniel DiAnda and Leah Touchstone, his daughter Catherine McKinley de Vance and her mother Paige Trang Brown, his nephew and niece Noah Touchstone and Hannah Touchstone and their mother Gemma Mesaros, his Uncle Peter Moyes, his cousins Matthew Moyes and Megan Moyes, and the rest of the ever growing Touchstone and Moyes families. He is also survived by his best friends, Chad Macy, Dean Henrick, Richard Sontag, James Sharpe, his Boston Terrier, Jack, and countless others whose lives have been touched by Peter’s beautiful life and legacy.