Peter Mark Koral entered this world on September 3, 1948, at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City. He was the first child of Alfred and Judy Koral, followed by siblings, Lynne and Steven, who joined the family as preemie twins four years later.

Peter spent his youth in Queens, surrounded by a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and great grandparents to support him. A rambunctious, active boy, he was passionate about all sports, particularly hockey, donning over 100 stitches as a memory of that activity. He remained a true sports fan throughout his life, loyal mostly to his New York teams except for the San Jose Sharks.

He had a near photographic memory, excelled in mathematics, and enjoyed Boy Scout activities. In his teens and early ‘20s, the timeless music of the ‘60s became a new passion, culminating in his favorite claim to fame – attending the original Woodstock on August 16 & 17, 1969.

EDUCATION & CAREER

In 1966, Peter graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School, a leader in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-based education. He spent his first year of college in Toledo, Ohio. He returned to New York and transferred to Long Island University for his sophomore year and graduated with a degree in accounting.

Peter lived comfortably in the basement of his parents’ home until 1974, when they nudged him out of the nest. Shortly thereafter, he met and married his first wife Andi, who had relatives in Northern California. Peter and Andi decided to move across the country to the Bay Area, where Peter began decades of accounting work across many Silicon Valley companies, including ASK Computers, Cooper Lasersonics, and LAM Research.

Although he worked in accounting to make a living, Peter dipped his toe into many entrepreneurial efforts to free himself from a desk job, including a matchmaking service decades before match.com entered the picture. He became a certified massage therapist, but the family benefited most from his healing hands.

FAMILY

After he and Andi divorced in 1982, Rev. Tana Marie Richards introduced Peter to Bea in 1987 on a blind dinner date, and on June 3, 1989, she married the happy couple at the historic Lick Mansion in Santa Clara, CA.

Peter and Bea welcomed their son, Matthew Aaron Koral, into the world on Sept. 1, 1991, and on Aug. 20, 1993, their daughter, Christina Lynne Koral, joined the family. They placed a deposit on a brand-new home in southeast San Jose in 1996 and watched it being built to completion until they moved there in November 1997. They traversed the highs and lows of a very hectic family and work life in Silicon Valley, supported by their friends and UCM spiritual community who lived in the area.

On their best days, Peter and Bea laughed and danced and went to many live concerts and theater performances. They frequently walked and played at Seacliff Beach in Rio del Mar, enjoyed watching movies, and attended spiritual retreats and Sunday services together.

Peter LOVED to read about travel destinations and planned many memorable family vacations to oceanfront resorts from Hawaii to the Caribbean. A whirlwind backpacking tour of Germany, France, Italy and England with the kids in 2000 ranked as one of his favorite trips.

In October of 2010, when Peter and Bea parted ways, he moved into the Koral’s condominium in Sarasota, Florida, shortly after his mom Judy moved into assisted living. When his sister Lynne lost her husband, she also joined her brother and dad In Sarasota. In 2019, just before the pandemic changed our world, Al sold the condominium, and Peter spent the remaining years of his life at Heron House Assisted Living in Sarasota, with Matthew Young as his legal guardian.

Peter passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 6, 2022. Between Christmas and New Year’s, Bea, Matthew & Sehej, and Christina & Colby spread Peter’s ashes in the backyard and at a favorite city park where the family had hiked together frequently. Two hawks circled above as a symbol that his soul was now free.

Peter was a fun-loving, positive guy with a good heart, a boisterous laugh, and an unforgettable bear hug. Thanks for being such a blessing to us all. You were a wonderful friend who enriched our lives, and we miss you dearly. You will be remembered by us all. 

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