H. Peter Meyerhoff

H. Peter Meyerhoff died peacefully at age 92 on February 6, 2018. His life embodied the American immigrant and refugee experience, having arrived in the United States from Germany as a teenager during World War II; he graduated from high school, and then joined the army where he was made a citizen. When he returned, he obtained a college degree and enjoyed a long career as a mechanical engineer, during which he earned several laser gyroscope patents for Honeywell. Pete married Rose, who was also an immigrant, in 1954. They moved to Minnesota in 1959 and raised three children. Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination inspired them to do something to improve black Americans’ status, so they created the Buy Black campaign. The campaign sought to encourage people to patronize black-owned businesses by publishing a list of such businesses in the Minneapolis area. Their mission quickly expanded to include other minorities on a national level, and fifty years later continues as Diversified Information Resources. Peter did volunteer work throughout his adult life; including teaching, coaching and refereeing tennis, organizing fundraising auctions, becoming an EMT, tutoring math, helping other immigrants get jobs and learn to drive, and delighting children around the world with balloon animals. Pete and Rose travelled extensively throughout the U.S. and the world, visiting five continents. He was dedicated to, and deeply loved by, his extended family whom he always wanted to help out. Pete was an intelligent, thoughtful, caring, hard working and friendly man. His silliness was one of his best qualities and one all of his children now share. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Erich and Alfred Meyerhoff. Pete is survived by his wife Rose Meyerhoff, daughters June (Kurt Arner) Meyerhoff and Karen (Peter Read) Meyerhoff, and son Eric (Sumiko Meyerhoff) Meyerhoff. Grandchildren Jitla Arner-Meyerhoff (Scott Turnquest), Angela Arner-Meyerhoff, Tarike Meyerhoff, and Kaleab Meyerhoff. A memorial service will be held in the future. Memorial contributions can be made to the National Ataxia Foundation in Minneapolis or to Diversified Information Resources.