1976 Peter Brett Drakos (54)
taylo...@comcast.net
1976 Peter Brett Drakos (54)
Monterey County
Herald, CA Feb 6, 2013
Peter Brett Drakos July 19, 1958 ~ February 3, 2013 Monterey - Lifetime Pacific Grove local and all-around great guy, Pete Drakos passed away in his sleep Sunday morning. Pete and his wife, Andrea Drakos (nee Myers) both grew up in Pacific Grove and graduated from PGHS Class of 1976, although fate did not reunite these “PGKIDZ” until age 40. Peter owned and operated Pete's Autobody & Glass in downtown Pacific Grove for nearly two decades, where his reputation as an honest and generous businessman often preceded him. Outside of work, Peter gave a lot of time and resources to local charitable organizations and was an avid booster of PGHS, pony baseball and youth soccer athletic teams. Pete is survived by his wife of 12 years, Andrea; four children, Dallon Stang of Los Angeles, CA, Amber Fisher of Pacific Grove, Holly Lebaron of Syracuse, UT, Melissa Alvarez of Omaha, NE; five grandchildren (to whom he was affectionately known as ‘Papa'); and brother, David Deacon of Seaside, CA. His memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 9, 2013 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 1 Forest Knoll Rd., Monterey, off of Skyline Forest Drive on Holman Hwy. 68. In lieu of gifts or flowers, donations to the AFRP in Pacific Grove (animalfriendsrescue.org) would be appreciated. Please visit www.missionmortuary.com to offer online condolences.
Carmel PC, CA Feb
1, 2013
Body shop owner remembered for kindness, honesty
By CHRIS COUNTS
A LIFELONG Monterey Peninsula resident who was best known as the owner of Pete’s Auto Body in Pacific Grove, Pete Drakos unexpectedly passed away Feb. 3. He was 54. The cause of his death has yet to be determined. The news of his passing saddened local residents. At Pete’s Auto Body — located at 214 Fountain Ave. — an impromptu memorial sprang up this week as many of his friends brought flowers and left notes on the wall outside the repair shop. A familiar face in Pacific Grove, Drakos attended Robert Down School and Pacific Grove Middle School before graduating from Pacific Grove High School in 1976. At the time of his death, he was living in the same house he grew up in. Drakos’ son, Dallon Stang — a graduate student at UCLA — was visiting his father at the time of his passing. The two were particularly close — in fact, the office at the body shop was filled with a “wall of fame” chronicling Stang’s youth athletic career. “He was my biggest fan, but I was also his biggest fan,” Stang told The Pine Cone. “I strive to live my life based on the example he set for me. Most people who knew Pete from the shop knew him as a kind and honest businessman. He was pretty much the same at home, but to a greater extent. He was the nicest guy I knew.” According to Stang, his father was a very generous man, sponsoring youth baseball and soccer teams, and donating to a slew of local and not-so-local nonprofit groups. “He supported just about every charity,” he said. One of Drakos’ closest friends, Brett Staples, said he “was never judgmental” and “treated everyone the same way.” “He made me a better person,” recalled Staples, who asked Drakos to be the best man at his wedding. Staples said Drakos was a big baseball and football fan, and he always rooted for the Oakland A’s and the Oakland Raiders. He enjoyed music, and his tastes ran from surf rock to the Grateful Dead. And as everyone who knew him could attest, Drakos couldn’t resist fixing up an old clunker. “Cars had a habit of following him home,” said his son with a smile. As a businessman, Drakos had a stellar reputation for honesty and quality work. At www.yelp.com, Pete’s Auto Body has a perfect five-star rating. “All I can say is Pete is the man,” one post reads. At Pete’s Auto Body, comments left at the makeshift memorial expressed the thoughts and feelings of the people Drakos touched. “You always waved and smiled as you walked by every day,” one post reads. “Fountain Avenue will not be the same.” Drakos leaves behind his wife, Andrea, who he had known since high school and married in 2000. Also surviving Drakos’ passing are his son, three daughters — Amber Fisher, Holly Lebaron and Melissa Alvarez — five grandchildren, and a half-brother, Dave Deacon. He also leaves behind two Chihauhaus, Ziggy and Gracie. The family said it was too early to know what would happen to the auto body business. The Church of Latter Day Saints will be the site of a memorial service for Drakos Saturday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. The church is located at 1 Knoll Dr. in Monterey. Drakos’ family suggests that any donations made in his name be sent to the Animal Friends Rescue Project.
Cedar Street Times,
Pacific Grove, CA Feb 8, 2013
Peter Brett Drakos July 19, 1958 – February 3, 2013 Lifetime PG local and all-around great guy, Pete Drakos passed away in his sleep Sunday morning. Pete and his wife Andrea Drakos (nee Myers) both grew up in Pacific Grove and graduated from PGHS class of 1976, although fate did not reunite these ‘2PGKIDZ’until age 40. Peter owned and operated Pete’s Autobody & Glass in downtown PG for nearly two decades, where his reputation as an honest and generous businessman often preceded him. Outside of work, Peter gave a lot of time and resources to local charitable organizations and was an avid booster of PGHS, pony baseball and youth soccer athletic teams. Pete is survived by his wife of 12 years, Andrea; four children, Dallon Stang of Los Angeles, CA; Amber Fisher of Pacific Grove, CA; Holly Lebaron of Syracuse, UT; Melissa Alvarez of Omaha, NE, 5 grandchildren (to whom he was affectionately known as ‘Papa’) and brother David Deacon of Seaside, CA. His memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 9, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 1 Forest Knoll Rd., Monterey, off of Skyline Forest Drive on Holman Hwy 68. In lieu of gifts or flowers, donations to the AFRP in Pacific Grove (animalfriendsrescue. org) would be appreciated. Please visit www.missionmortuary.com for condolences.