[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF THE LIFE OF GASTON FRANCIS PERIAT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2015

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, dear 
friend and extraordinary American, Gaston Francis Periat. Gaston was 
born in San Francisco, California on September 19, 1922, and died 
peacefully in Santa Cruz, California, on December 11, 2013, at the age 
of 91.
   Gaston was raised in San Mateo and graduated from San Mateo High 
School. He worked in his family's Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge dealership, 
Periat & Sons, until World War II, when he entered the Army. Gaston was 
taught to speak French by his Swiss grandmother, and he spent much of 
the war in France where he acted as a liaison between the U.S. Army and 
French businesses. In February 1944, Gaston married Margaret (Peggy), 
and in 1946 the couple settled in San Mateo and began their family.
   In 1970, Gaston and Peggy moved to Pescadero where Gaston enjoyed 
riding the trails on his horse Yuckabuck. After selling the family 
business in San Mateo, the family moved to Gilroy, where Gaston bought 
Gavilan Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge. Upon his retirement, he returned to 
Pescadero where he served on the Pescadero Municipal Advisory 
Committee. During his final years, Gaston lived in the retirement 
community of Dominican Oaks in Santa Cruz.
   Gaston Periat was a golfer, a story teller, a member of the Elks 
Club, a Rotarian and a friend to an extraordinary number of people. He 
was helpful to all in need and had the ability to make every person 
feel special. I was privileged to work with Gaston Periat during my 
time on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. He was unfailingly 
polite, concerned, professional and prepared, and we continued to work 
together during my tenure in Congress. He was a great and good man who 
made extensive contributions to our community and he will always be 
missed by those who had the good fortune to know him.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in 
extending our condolences to Gaston Periat's wife of 69 years, Peggy, 
and to his daughter, Judy Periat; son Dan Periat and his wife, Andrea 
Periat; son Ken Periat and his wife, Kimberly Periat; daughter Janet 
Periat and her husband, Frank Higgins; granddaughter Adriana Goericke 
and her husband, Jan Goericke, and great-granddaughter Mia Goericke; 
granddaughter Camile Steinmetz and her husband, Carl Steinmetz, and 
great-granddaughter Lola Steinmetz; granddaughters Renee Periat and 
Nadine Periat; grandson Aaron Periat and his wife, Kim Periat, and 
great-grandson Maximus Periat.
   May our tribute to Gaston, as well as our thoughts and prayers be a 
source of strength and comfort to his entire family. Our community and 
our country were made stronger and better by Gaston Periat.

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