Peter Bartlett Balch

Peter Bartlett Balch, 60, of Rolling Hills, passed away on April 24, 2022 in Torrance, CA. Peter was born in Exeter, CA to Bertram S. Balch, Jr. and Verna B. Balch in November, 1961. As a child, Peter lived in Iran; Bryn Mawr, PA; New York City; Darien, CT; and Rolling Hills, CA. He went to high school at Miraleste High School in Palos Verdes, and Principia Upper School in Missouri. He attended Long Beach State.

Condensing Peter’s life into a few short paragraphs is difficult because he was a true renaissance man and jack of all trades. Peter crewed on several tall ships out of San Pedro, California, including the Swift of Ipswich and Buccaneer Queen. He installed solar equipment, maintained large generators, and became a fish expert working for pet stores. Known as “Pete the Fish Guy,” he worked in large scale fish breeding operations, and ran his own business installing and maintaining aquariums for companies and individuals. He even helped construct a full size circus in the desert. Peter assisted his brother in building a business from scratch, and he was still working the phones 20 years later. Some customers purposely called in their orders just so they could chat with Peter.

Peter was a well versed, gifted conversationalist, and could intelligently talk to anyone about anything. He was generous and loyal, with a good heart and ready smile; the kind of person who had your back no matter what. When loved ones were in the hospital, he was there for the length of their stay. If anyone needed anything, such as help evacuating ahead of a fire, or even a ride to the airport, (which in LA is asking a lot), he would jump in his car and be there with no hesitation.

Peter is survived by his mother, Verna, his siblings, Barrett and Bertram, his niece and nephew, Serena and Chad, and his 25 year-old Senegal parrot, Josie.