Peter S Barotz

Our loving, devoted, and generous husband, father and grandfather, Peter Barotz, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2023 at the age of 95 at The Westland House in Monterey, California, surrounded by his family.

Peter was born in Hampstead Heath, London on February 28, 1928, while his parents were living in England. Soon after his birth the family returned to Brooklyn, New York, where Peter spent his childhood. He graduated from Tilden High School in 1945 and then attended Cornell University, from which he graduated cum laude in 1948 with a degree in philosophy and physics. Following college, Peter tried his first entrepreneurial venture in hydroponic farming in Dade County, Florida. During the Korean War Peter enlisted in the United States Navy and in September 1951, he graduated in the first class of the Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, commissioned as an Ensign. After serving in the fleet in the Korean theater he served with Beach Jumper Unit One based in Coronado, California. His decorations included the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, and the China Service Medal.

After his discharge from the Navy, Peter returned to New York where he met his future wife, Martha Granirer. They married in Manhattan in 1957 and lived for over 60 years in their family home in New Rochelle where they raised their three children. After Martha’s sudden passing in December 2018 and the quieting of the COVID pandemic, Peter moved to Monterey, California in 2021 to be near his daughter and son-in-law, Naomi and Seth Pollack. He found a supportive and caring community at Merrill Gardens and enjoyed many a meal with his dear friend Ron at their special table.

Peter was known for his quick wit, creative thinking, love of the art of business and fierce determination and independence. As a successful entrepreneur, he was involved in many businesses, including manufacturing, import/export, and real estate finance and development. Even in his 90s, Peter was active on corporate boards and was eager to begin his next business venture. He was guided by his core belief that “life is an accident.”

For many years Peter was an avid tennis player at the New Rochelle Tennis Club and an active member of the summer community on Hen Island off the coast of Rye, New York.

Peter is survived by his daughters, Naomi Pollack and Celia Barotz, his son, Nathan Barotz, his son-in-law, Dr. Seth Pollack, daughter-in-law, Dr. Carrie Lederman Barotz, and his four grandchildren, Alex Pollack, Maya Pollack, Caitlin Barotz and Matthew Barotz. Peter was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Granirer Barotz, and his sister, Sylvia Mae Barotz.