Peter Trembath

He was born on Oct. 19, 1952, in Iron Mountain to the late Willard and Dorothy (Hebert) Trembath. He married Teresa Berg on Aug. 18, 1979, in Iron Mountain at St. Mary and St. Joseph Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Teresa Trembath; son, Dr. Andrew Trembath; and daughter, Maggie Trembath.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Trembath.

Peter graduated salutatorian from Iron Mountain High School, class of 1970. That autumn he enrolled in the Honors College of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, majoring in Early Modern European History with an emphasis in 18th century Dutch Republic. By his second semester, he was tracked into graduate level courses, bypassing the average student’s path. After concerted lobbying on his part, Peter was the first undergraduate at the University of Michigan granted permission to fulfill his foreign language requirement with Dutch. In his junior year, he was awarded a scholarship to research in the Harlaam archives in the Netherlands. His essay was awarded the highest honor of best written and researched undergraduate honors thesis that year.

He received the University of Michigan Branston Award for high undergraduate achievement. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1974. That fall, he was awarded a Rotary Scholarship to the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, one of the oldest universities in the world. As a recipient, he was required to speak about his experiences throughout the Netherlands. Even though permitted to speak in English, much to their delight and amazement, he spoke to the groups in their native Dutch because he felt it was more respectful.

He spent a second year in Europe after having received a scholarship from the Belgian government, studying at the University of Ghent. After his two-year sojourn in Europe, he returned to the University of Michigan to pursue a doctorate in Early Modern European History.

After completing all course work, but before writing his doctoral dissertation, he gave it all up to attend law school at the University of Michigan. He was admitted to the bar in 1983. Peter pursued his legal career in Minneapolis for 12 years, moving to Texas in 1995.

He specialized in corporate and securities law with positions as general counsel for several corporations including Bolle America. His work brought him to the far reaches of the world, negotiating contracts in mainland China, India, France and Germany.

Peter’s childhood and youth were spent in the idyllic world that was 1950s and 1960s Iron Mountain. His fondest memories included riding bikes around Lake Antoine and fishing with Don Anderson, playing with Steve Franzoi for hours unsupervised in the alley between their homes and camping (in winter!) with Pete Cattelino. Don, Pete and Peter became Eagle Scouts together in high school.

He was a gentle and kind father to Andrew and Maggie and instilled in them a wanderlust to see and understand the wider world and to absorb vastly different and diverse cultures from their own. He was exceedingly proud of them; Andrew, an immunologist, and Maggie who followed in her father’s footsteps, a corporate lawyer. He made sure Andrew and Maggie knew how to cast a fishing line, ski a black diamond, swing a golf club and play a competent hand of bridge.

The family frequented their favorite dude ranch in Arizona, Rancho de la Oso, and skied yearly at Beaver Creek, Colo. They traveled widely and frequently because Peter always felt comfortable in any situation. His facility with foreign languages was astonishing. He was fluent in Dutch, and conversant in French, German and Italian.

Teresa always says she loved her kindergarten teacher, Dorothy Trembath, so much that she grew up to fall in love with her son and marry him. She will deeply miss the intellectual exchanges that were the richness of their marriage. She knew early on that in order to keep his interest, she needed to continue her own self education to add to his always stimulating conversations and to understand his sometimes obscure and erudite sense of humor.

Peter converted to Catholicism in 1993, one of the many surprise gifts he bestowed on Teresa. He will be remembered for his brilliant mind, quick wit and sweet temperament. Most of all, he will be remembered for his fearless determination to live a full life despite his debilitating illness.

The family is deeply grateful to his oncology team at UT Southwestern, Dr. David Gerber, Dr. Michael Youssef and Dr. Tu Dan and to physical therapist Ashton Hines. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in his honor.

A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 5100 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas, 75093.