Peter Christian Baxter Dawson
Peter was born in England to Joseph Edward Baxter Dawson and Ursula Mary Margaret (Paetzold, born Dessau, Germany). He was the eldest of three sons, who were raised in Nigeria, West Africa, where his father worked as a civil servant for the British Colonial Service in the education field. He was enrolled in British boarding school at the age of 7, vacations were spent in London with his loving paternal grandmother “Granny”, (Kathleen Dawson) and his uncle and aunt, John and Barbara Dawson, or with German relatives during his parents long leave from Nigeria.
He completed his Secondary education at Hitching Grammar, Hertfordshire, where his parents lived permanently after returning post Nigerian independence . At school, he developed a love for the game of Rugby, which stayed with him throughout his life, watching it on the TV or traveling to Rugby 7-a-side tournaments.
He was sponsored as a management trainee by Michelin Tyre Company to study mechanical engineering at Brunel University, Uxbridge, just outside London. He completed his formal education with a certificate of accounting in London.
Peter met his wife, Elizabeth Suzanne Milton Williams, at university. They married in 1973 and shared a life together for 51 years.
His working career in engineering and management with companies such as Emhart, Otis Elevator, United Technologies, Parker Hannifin, and L3 MAPPS, took him to work or live in many countries. Home could be Germany, America, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Canada, for a couple of years or a decade. Peter was fluent in German, French and also enjoyed speaking in Italian and “getting by” in Spanish. He enjoyed the gastronomy of all the countries he visited and would enthusiastically sample the local delicacies, no matter what they might be. He became knowledgeable about food and wine, and in retirement enjoyed visiting the countries whose gastronomy he particularly enjoyed, France, Spain, and Italy. He inherited a love of classical music and Opera from his father, and for several years he was active in the Ogden Opera Guild and Utah Symphony. His uncle, John, had sparked an interest in anything mechanical or with a motor, so Peter particularly enjoyed watching F1 racing and visiting car, aircraft, and nautical museums. He assembled a large collection of model trains of the Hornby brand, which his grandnephews enjoyed playing with under his close supervision when they visited from England. His home in South Ogden gave him a wonderful view of airplanes taking off from Hill Air Force Base, a reminder of his work at the local company, Parker Hannifin.
Peter also enjoyed skiing, although after retirement he made the choice to hang up his skis in favor of long trips to Europe in the winter to visit family, during a time of year when European cities were less crowded. It was during one of these extended trips with Suzanne that he suffered a stroke, while on a train from Venice to Vienna to visit some German relatives. Despite prompt and excellent medical care at the KABEG Klinic in Klagenfurt, Austria, Peter did not survive, and passed away with his wife and his beloved niece Cecilia Hamilton by his side. In accordance with his wishes, his body was donated for medical research to the Medical Clinic of Vienna. A celebration of Peter’s life was held with family members in Maidenhead, United Kingdom, in February.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Suzanne, his two brothers Martin and Andrew, many dearly beloved nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews, to whom he will always be “Silly Uncle Peter”, in the United Kingdom, and cousins in both the United Kingdom and Germany.
Condolences to 1081 East, 5675 South, South Ogden, UT 84405
Donations would be appreciated to a charity close to Peter’s heart, World Central Kitchen, donate.wck.org
Happy 76th birthday, my darling, with love from Suzanne