Peter Rolf Sachs

Our Dad

Born June 2, 1929 died January 5, 2023

What an amazing life.

Born in Weimar, Germany during the historically significant period known as the Weimar Republic, the period after World War I until the rise of Nazi Germany. Born to a Jewish father and a Catholic mother. Kurt and Lily; a Renaissance couple. He was loved deeply.

At 8 years old his Mom died and Hitler came into power. His father and relatives lost their businesses and were sent to concentration camps. Thankfully, they could see what was coming and were able to get visas to leave the country. Once his father was released from Buchenwald, they traveled with as many of their belongings as they could to Bogota, Colombia, the only country that was accepting German refugees. Neither spoke Spanish. He, his Dad and other German refugee cousins reestablished themselves there successfully.

Peter started college in Colombia but eventually went to the University of Denver to finish his degree in Chemistry. When he started there he knew no English. He would go to the movies, watched TV and only associated with English-speaking friends to learn the language. One night he was asked to play bongos in a band at a dance for the international students at the area’s colleges. Gisela Gonzalez, a girl from Mexico who was studying English and Drama at Loretto Heights College, had been invited to sing. After they married in 1956, they moved to Connecticut where Elizabeth and Jacquie were born. They moved to New York in 1960, where they had 2 more daughters; Pam and Gisele.

Peter was a research chemist for many companies, specializing in durability and color for floor tile. He had many patents.

In 1988 they moved to Houston, Texas, a business move that helped them get out of the cold Northeast and on to a golf course life in the sunny South. Their union lasted 64 years until Gisela's death in 2020.

He had been an avid golfer and bowler. He won the table tennis championship 2 years in a row while in college in Colombia.

Peter was an amazing man. So smart and so witty always. When receiving Last Rites, he looked up at the priest with a bit of a smirk and said "Is this the last chapter?"

A gentle man and a gentleman to the end.

Peter was preceded in death by wife, Gisela and youngest daughter, Gisele Harris. He is survived by daughters Elizabeth Marek (Steve), Jacquie Agnew (Roger), Pam Minty (Mike) and Gisele’s husband, Steven Harris, 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held later in early spring.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/houston-cremation for the Sachs family.