Peter Van Voorhies

It is with great sadness that the family of Peter Van Voorhies announces his passing after a long and weary battle with a chronic illness. He passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on January 16th, 2018 at the age of 76.

In 1941, Peter was born in New Orleans and adopted by Milton Anthony and Myrle Electa (Richárd).

Although Peter “Pete” was a long-time resident of Southern California, he remained proud of his Cajun culture and of being the son of the Voorhies’. His father, Milton Voorhies was a direct descendant of the founding from who have a long and impressive political and military history.

Standing at 6’4”, towering over most others, he was not intimidating but charismatic and had a friendly demeanor. His love of Zydeco music, Cajun food, Chicory coffee; and ingrained notion of being a Southern gentleman never waned.

Pete spent his youth between his home in New Iberia, Louisiana and military boarding schools. While at the military schools, he learned the im-portance of discipline, respect and chain of command. The indelible impression left on Pete provided a foundational understanding upon which a fine military career was based.

In 1961, Pete entered into the U.S. Navy. The fol-lowing year, he married his first wife. He served the U.S. Navy in the Construction Battalions hon-orably until retirement as Steel Worker Chief in 1982. After retiring from the Navy, he divorced and they went separate ways.

Throughout his military career his strengths would be tested, tried and found stronger than the challenges before him. Here he performed at his highest potential and often took on roles that would endear him to the men he led and those to whom he reported.

Pete excelled at most everything. He was of an intensely curious mind which led him to become a technical expert in the interests he pursued. His motivation, skills, and drive carried over from his career to all aspects of his life.

Pete was a 32° Freemason of the Scottish Rite, and as such was a Master Mason of the Blue Lodge. In the Scottish Rite, he vowed to serve as a “True Soldier” who seeks truth and knowledge, demands freedom of voice, vote, and opinion for all people, combats spiritual tyranny with reason and truth, encourages men to be self-reliant and independent, and performs zealously his duties to God, his country, his family, his brethren, and himself. These are not idle words, but lofty ideals to be sought after and served. He proudly wore an emblematic ring of freemasonry as a reminder to carry out the tenets of the Masons fraternal brotherhood faithfully. Pete took the Masonic ideals seriously. He also found the Knights of Columbus to be an organization in which he enjoyed participating.

His passion for the sea not only represented in his choice of military outfit but also in his pastime activities, included participating in regattas, and teaching others to sail.

He was an expert marksman (M-16 no less). His skills in construction spanned foundation to roof, maybe not surprising considering he was in NMCBs 40, 4 (“Fabulous Four”), 10 (“Men of Ten”), Construction Battalions Pacific and Unit 414.

His faith and relationship with God was very personal and reflected to others by the organizations and people he chose to affiliate with, as well as his actions throughout his lifetime. In his travels all over the world, including two tours in Vietnam, Pete carried the New Testament Bible given to him when he began working as a youth counselor in his late teens. Inside were marked passages that he felt helped him through difficult times and he would refer to those passages when counseling first youth, then later men under his command.



Pete was an anchor for those around him and most especially in difficult times. During his deployments to Vietnam, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Diego Garcia (to name a few), Pete considered it a privilege and an honor to be where he was at each time. Smiling, laughing, listening, advising and whistling while managing to make every hammer strike count; and every person he encountered feel important and heard was Pete’s hallmark personality.

He knew that being away from family for months at a time could affect morale, so he would do what he could to make the deployment a little more fun, a little easier and less lonely. He wasn't above playing practical jokes, pulling pranks, or even just goofing off ... as long as it didn't slow down the work! "Don't let your enthusiasm out-weigh your common sense" most likely said after his men did this…..

He was a leader, coach, mentor, teacher, friend and an example of excellence in the military which carried through to his post-military career.

In line with the continuous theme of seeking knowledge, after the military, Pete went to further his education and as serendipitous as it sounds; it was this endeavor that led him to the love of his life, Donna Kinzer, whom he married on November 22, 1986 in San Dimas, California.

Post-military, Pete worked for the Westminster and Ontario-Montclair School Districts as Director of Maintenance, Facilities, and Transportation. He pursued educational goals, obtaining his Master’s Degree from California State University at San Bernardino. His success in civilian life served him well when he left to begin his own facilities maintenance service company. He treasured being his own boss and relished working hard; masterfully applying dec-ades of technical knowledge and leadership skills. He continued for years until his illness forced him to slow down and eventually retire.

Pete had a few standard quotes he would call upon frequently until it was drilled into those around including his daughters: “Don’t put off to tomorrow, what you can do today” – usually a reminder for the procrastinator; and “if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right” – as a final closing to a lesson.



Pete's real message was in his daily actions and behaviors: Love each other with dignity and re-spect, and for goodness sake, NEVER say the words 'shut up'. Pete thought that was the rudest thing anyone could say to another person, especially within earshot of a military veteran; after all, he fought to defend ‘freedom of speech’. Pete believed every decision and action has a consequence. Pete reminded his children frequently that this life offers us all one clean reputation and a host of opportunities to dishonor or polish it with each choice; to learn from mistakes, and never forget the 6 “Ps” (prior proper preparation prevents poor performance).

Pete loved his family very much, telling his friends that he'd done splendidly with his daughters, but hit the jackpot with his sons-in-law, John Brisslinger, Steven Penderghast and Chris Elms.

His grandchildren and great-grandchildren made his day when they came to visit. Pete put family above all else and this was evident in the love and respect he showed his wife Donna.

He is survived by his wife of more than 31 years, Donna, sister Millitone Antoinette Voorhies, his daughters: Ruth Penderghast, Amelie Brisslinger, and Deborah Elms; seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Together, Donna and Pete created a life ce-mented in love, respect and honor lasting up to the moment he passed.

He will be terribly missed by all.





A giant pine, magnificent and old

Stood staunch against the sky and all around

Shed beauty, grace and power.

Within its fold birds safely reared their young.

The velvet ground beneath was gentle,

And the cooling shade gave cheer to passersby.

Its towering arms a landmark stood, erect and unafraid,

As if to say, “Fear naught from life’s alarms”.

It fell one day.

Where it had dauntless stood was loneliness and void.

But men who passed paid tribute – and said,

“To know this life was good,

It left its mark on me. Its work stands fast”.

And so it lives.

Such life no bonds can hold –

This giant pine, magnificent and old.