Jan, 28, 1929 - May 28, 2013

Neal Frazier Peek, 84, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 28, 2013. His wife Jerrie died in June of last year and Neal has been waiting to join her and continue their love on another playing field.

He was born in Chico to Hazel and Reese Peek of Sacramento. He met his wife, Alice Jeraldine Weeks Peek, while attending Sacramento High School in 1949. While attending Sacramento Junior College Neal proposed to Jerrie and they went on to enjoy a happy marriage of 63 years. They married on April 21, 1951, and shortly there after settled in Davis. Both were active in the community, UC Davis and Davis Community Church.

One of Neal's main interests at the time was chemistry, a career that began at UC Berkley, together with the beginning of his family. His studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army to Aurora, Colo., where he served as a chemist. Neal then returned to UC Berkley where he received his bachelor degree in chemistry. He moved on to Davis, where he received a master's degree in physics and then completed his Ph.D.

He was actively involved with the physics department at UC Davis for nearly 40 years, first as a student and researcher and eventually a senior lecturer for the department. As well as academic interests he was a proficient "backyard" electrician, cyclotron assembler, and home owner and builder. There was always plenty of music at the Peek household because of Neal's involvement in local barbershop choirs and quartets, he had many minuets of fame while singing as a tenor with the Professors of Harmony quartet.

He is survived by his four children, Reese Peek and his partner Carol Wever, Laurna Estabrook and her husband Zach, Christopher Peek, and Alison Hammond and her husband Jeff; his adored grandchildren, Daniel Peek and his wife Maggie, Rowan Peek, Samantha Jane Peek, Myles Hammond, Mason Hammond, Abigail Peek and Jacob Peek; his sisters in-law Trudie Floyd and Susand Scott; nieces Nondra and Nori; and many extended family and friends. The family would also like to acknowledge Janell Howard, Neal's companion caregiver of nine months, who immensely improved his latter quality of life.

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Davis Community Church, followed by a celebration of his life in Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted by Davis Community Church and the International House.

Obituary from Davis Enterprise

Aggie Video Interview 1994: https://video.ucdavis.edu/media/Neal+Peek/0_2zgbejhr/25823912