Berkeley Office of Gift Planning

Peter Van Houten’s service to UC Berkeley as an administrator spanned 40 years. After his retirement in 2000, his relationship with the university didn’t stop. He took the initiative to visit dozens of rural high schools to talk about the advantages and possibilities of attending Berkeley. “My late wife always said that I was married to the university,” Peter says with a laugh. “I do love Cal deeply.”

Peter was born in Santa Cruz in 1934. Both his parents as well as siblings Ann and Jim, late wife Betty, and daughter Wendy are all proud Golden Bears. Peter majored in physical education and would go on to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees in education. He played baseball at Cal and coached its junior varsity baseball team while he was a graduate student.

Peter would go on to serve two years in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant in the tank corps and then teach junior high school in San Leandro for a year. In 1960, Peter accepted the position of assistant dean of students at Berkeley and was later promoted to associate dean of students — the Berkeley title of which he is most proud.

This summer, Peter turned 90. He and wife Nancy Lim Van Houten live in the quaint, mountain town of Twain Harte, California near the Stanislaus National Forest. Peter notes that because the university is “state-assisted” rather than “state-supported,” Berkeley alums are duty-bound to help bolster its world-class teaching and research. He has made provisions in his estate plan to support what he cherishes most: the Library, Cal baseball, and a student mentorship program in the College of Letters and Science.

“It’s an opportunity, a chance to help an institution whose whole idea behind it is aimed at making the world a better place.” Peter says. “I urge everyone to consider making a gift to Berkeley as part of their estate plan. All gifts matter.”