Peter Brian Coleman, 57
Nov. 2, 1953 ~ Oct. 7, 2011
Girdwood resident Peter Brian Coleman (Petie), 57 died unexpectedly Oct. 7 at his residence of natural causes.
A celebration of life will be organized in Girdwood in the near future and word will be out soon.
He was born in Richmond. Cal. on Nov. 2, 1953 and grew up in a large Catholic family of eight children in the San Francisco Bay area.
Upon completion of high school, Petie moved to Park City, Utah and enjoyed skiing and the culinary arts. However, he found his true home once he moved to Alaska in the late 1970s. Petie’s love of the water and boating led him to a variety of commercial fishing ventures. He was a crabber, ran a tender in Prince William’s Sound and ferried boats up the Inland Passage.
Eventually Mr. Coleman moved to Girdwood where he found his extended family in this mountain community. Everyone loved Petie as he was an eloquent diplomat with a crabber’s constitution.
During his years in Girdwood, Petie was a multi-faceted craftsman involved in a variety construction projects including the Alyeska Resort, log home construction, and supervising commercial ventures. Petie had a great love of the outdoors and spent his free time fishing, boating, and hunting with his friends.
He is survived by his mother, Elisabeth Coleman; brothers, David Coleman of Camarillo, Calif., and Rene Suarez-Coleman of San Francisco, Calif.; his sisters Christine Coleman of Calaveritas, Calif. Mari Ryan of Camarillo, Calif., and Roberta Fabiani of Burlington, Wis.; his nieces and nephews, Nina, Matt, Racheal, Sean, Caitlin, Evan, and Anne Marie.
Petie was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence; sister, Cynthia; and brothers, Joseph Michael and Edward Kennedy.
We love you Petie.
