Peter Quatrochi

Peter Michael Quatrochi "Pete" Pronouned: Kah TRA' Kee

Born June 26, 1942 in Kansas City Missouri to Mike Quatrochi and Ida Snyder Quatrochi.

The Q's were Hard Workers, Catholic more by Culture than Practice, although Great Grandma Q, who was from Naples, Italy was always in Prayer and Cooking.... Everything from Scratch.... All Family members were Baptized, Married and Buried in the Catholic Church. Pete was named after his Grandpa Pete, who was from Gangi, Sicily. Dian visited Gangi in Fall of 2019.

Mike and Ida started a Family Produce Company Ka TRA' Kee Produce and at the tender age of 14 Pete was playing High School Football on Friday nights and driving the Produce Truck at 4AM on Saturday morning. Pete was to be an Early Riser his entire lifetime.

Pete was the 1st Grandson in the Kah TRA' Kee Family and as such was born with High Expectations, which were generally met. High Accolades in Football earned him a Full Scholarship to University of Kansas in its Hay Day of the early 1960's. At KU Pete was voted Co-Captain by his Teammates...and along with Gale Sayers was voted to UPI 1963 All Big 8 Conference Team.

Pete met Dian Upton at KU and they were married January 9, 1965 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wichita KS/Dian's childhood Church. In fact Sacred Heart of Mary is a carbon copy of St. Joe's. A Godwink! Pete's favorite Catholic Churches were St. Tom's in the '90s and since then St. Francis in Longmont. He really liked the new Church...and going there the last couple of years falling asleep in our pew...because he fell asleep everywhere. He was at Peace in that setting.

Pete's Lifetime Dream was to become a TWA Airline Pilot ...So he joined the United States Air Force to learn how to fly airplanes. He became an Air Force Captain and flew B52's in the Viet Nam War. Pete was overseas when their 1st Baby/Kristine Marie was Born in Chicopee Massachusetts. Unfortunately, Kristine died the day she was born on December 9, 1968. Pete was permitted to return home for 2 weeks in support of his wife...and to solely arrange for the funeral/burial of their infant daughter.

In God's timing...56 years later Pete would be called to his Heavenly Home on that same Date of December 9th. Dian takes Great Comfort in that Godwink! And with their sons arranged for Pete's Private Family Burial the Saturday after his passing.

Back to Pete's Lifetime Dream of becoming an Airline Pilot...He was accepted into 1970 TWA training; however, the class was cancelled before it ever started due to a flood of Miliary Pilots joining the airlines just ahead of him.

Therefore. He had to find another JOB...which was painful ...He ultimately went on board with Dian's Father's new invention. an Automatic Retractable Awning for Recreational Vehicles. The product was a Huge Overnight Success and Dian and Pete moved the Factory to Colorado, where they have lived ever since.

Colorado was chosen for relocation for its Outdoor Lifestyle and Boulder for Being a Big 8 University Town. Culture and Sports. For years the Q's enjoyed having their Friends come to Games...

They enjoyed raising their Sons, Phil and Nick in Boulder...and they both were overjoyed with their Sons and their friends and friend's Parents...Boulder was a small town in those years...with a close feeling of Friendship and Support within the Community. Sacred Heart of Jesus & Boulder High were their Bases.

Pete's Business thrived! Soon and after selling it to a Corporation, Pete seized the opportunity to take one of the products and go out on his own again...Thus Everlock Systems/Mobile Home Skirting was born on a Hand Shake between Pete and Randy, and thrives to this day with both Sons now at the Helm. Pete was immensely proud of his Sons coming into the Family Business. A Great Legacy to leave for his Family.

Pete's Hobbies were Hunting, Fishing, Skiing and Yard Work... He was brought up Hunting with his Father on private farms in Missouri and Kansas. Pete's Father In Law taught him to Fish and Play Craps in Vegas. Pete especially loved Fishing at the Big Horn River in Montana and in Key West with his dear friend Ben Trevor. His Skiing buddies were his Sons and his Childhood Friend, Bill Buck and his wife Diane. Pete's wife was more of a Ski Bunny, preferring to meet up afterwards. The Yard Work was a matter of Pride in keeping his yard in good order.

In 2021 on a trip to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Pete regaled his Son & Grand daughters with stories that he flew THAT B52..That very one that stands at the West Entrance to the Academy.;

Pete loved the Outdoors! Early to Bed and Early to Rise was his Lifestyle...That was a constant even when he moved to Memory Care in January 2023.

Pete's Dementia probably began about 8 to 10 years ago...slowly at first...but eventually developing to a stage that impeded his ability to work at the office and created an immense Angst for him to deal with in many ways...He even had hard times coping with his beloved Fishing skills and trips... When Pete tested out of having a Driver's License, he told everyone, "This D .... State of Colorado takes your Driver's License away when you are 80." No one disagreed with him; walked away sad.

Dian and Pete were able to cope until the last couple of years when Pete needed a Safe Secure Environment in which to live...

And the rest is History...The History of steady decline and painful relocation for Pete and for his Family. The Dementia Journey has been difficult for the entire Family; there have been Angels along the way in the form of excellent, compassionate Private Caregivers for Pete. Mainly Lilly, and Jamie. And Conrado and Hilda. With Nancy at the Helm of helping Dian navigate the World of Dementia Care...

The Juniper Village Memory Care has been the Best of the places Pete has resided over the past 2 years. Clean beautiful environment with attentive compassionate Caregivers.

Still difficult to accept that Pete needed to be in Memory Care but He did! Harder yet was to accept that Pete needed Hospice Long term and End of Life Care... TrailWinds Hospice was another Godwink! It is impossible to describe the degree of compassion, dignity and professional care that TrailWinds provided for Pete at every level.

Dian, Nick and Phil have pulled together all the way to insure the Best Care possible for her Husband and their Dad.....Seldom an easy task... They cried together on the Hard days and They rejoiced together on those rare days when Pete seemed to know who they were and enjoyed their time together. They particularly enjoyed trips to Famous Dave's, where Pete could enjoy the pictures of Hunting & Fishing on the walls plus he loved BarBQ. He once asked if the Deer Mount hanging on the wall at Famous Dave's was alive...We all got a soft chuckle out of that one. Other favorite outing venues were Bone Fish Grill Outback and Panera's. One time he even enjoyed a Pedicure in a Salon.

Christmas 2023 with our entire Family at Danielle and Nick's house will always be a Treasured Memory...albeit a Shock for Dian, who didn't know he was coming....

We all MISS our ole' Pete Dad Grandpa. The ole' Pete who captured Dian's heart, and had an infectious laugh, The Dad who rejoiced in taking his sons on fishing trips and ballgames, The Grandpa who watched Soccer Games, even though he knew nothing about Soccer and let the Girls comb his hair and put ribbons and clips in it. He even let them "Put him in Time Out on the stairs."

Pete was liked by anyone who came to really know him; He preferred a few close friends and his Family and a quiet Lifestyle with the exception for Cheering on his Teams and his Boys.

Pete had no doubt that God was alive and well, He truly believed in Heaven and Hell! Pete was a Family Man of Character.

And although he Acted Out even in Memory Care, he still was favored by Staff for being Happy and Complimentary and Mannerly to them...

Pete...We will always Love YOU and already miss you in the Flesh...but you will always be ALIVE in our Hearts and our Memories.

Pete is survived by Dian, his wife of 60 years and their Son Philip (Ali Walton) Children Cooper & Macy and Son, Nick (Danielle Johnson) and their daughters' Lyla, Nora and Mia.

Pete is also survived by his Sisters Rosemary Mathis (Ron) of Valdosta, GA, Saletta Shuman (Pat), and Brother Nick Quatrochi (Mary) of Kansas City, MO plus numerous Nieces & Nephews and Great Nieces and Nephews.

Pete, We are Happy that you are finally Resting in Peace.....in Heaven with our Daughter, Your Parents and Friends...In a whole new world with no Pain or Strife...You wanted to Go Home and now you are in your Eternal Home...

"Eye has not Seen, Ear has not heard, what God has ready for those who love him Spirit of love, come give us the mind of Jesus , Teach us the wisdom of God."