Obituary: Saratoga Historian Willys Peck

• Deceased's name: Willys Peck
• Age: 89
• Date: April 16, 2013

Lifelong Saratoga resident Willys Irvine Peck died peacefully in his home in Saratoga on Tuesday, April 16 surrounded by family and friends.

Born Aug. 21,1923, he was the son of Lida and Llewellyn Peck and the brother of the late Albert Peck.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty, two children, Bill Peck of Santa Clara and Anna Rainville of Saratoga and two granddaughters, Sarah and Merina Rainville, and son-in-law, Don Rainville.

Active in  preserving his town's history, he was involved in the Saratoga Historical Foundation and Museum, Montalvo's Phelan Library, and California History Center.

He was a member of the Saratoga Men's Club and the Saratoga Federated Church where he was christened when "both he and the Julia Morgan Chapel were new."

Involved in his community, he served on many local boards including the West Valley-Mission Community College District Foundation.

An avid hand-press printer, he was a member of the San Jose Printer's Guild.

He was passionate about theater, trains and the written word. He was an author, a playwright and a poet.  

A veteran of World War II, he was a member of the 20th armored division, one of three divisions credited by the U.S. Army with the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp in 1945.  

Willys graduated from UC Berkeley in 1949 and began his career as a journalist for the San Jose Mercury Herald as a copy editor and assistant city editor and much later as a columnist for the Saratoga News.

In 1962 he graduated from Santa Clara Law School and practiced law until returning to the Mercury News where he continued to work on the city desk even after his official retirement in 1989 for a total of 55 years.

A celebration of Willys' life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25 at the Saratoga Federated Church, 20390 Park Place.