Bernard Peck, who played a major role in the purchase of the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts for 51ÁÔÆæ and whose family long supported the arts here, died Oct. 15 at age 88, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A memorial service for him will be held at 51ÁÔÆæ today.<\/p>\n
Known as \u201cBernie\u201d to his family and to friends at 51ÁÔÆæ, Peck and his family\u2019s foundation were instrumental in the university\u2019s purchase of the Temple Emanu-El B\u2019ne Jeshurun building, which became the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts in 2000. In 1999, 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s School of the Arts was renamed the Peck School of the Arts, for his parents, Milton and Lillian Peck.<\/p>\n
The service begins at 12 p.m. at the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, 2419 E. Kenwood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Peck School of the Arts faculty, staff, and students will be forever grateful to the Peck family for their support of our school and their support of so many other Milwaukee venues and programs,\u201d said Scott Emmons, dean of the Peck School of the Arts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I think of Bernie Peck I think of a man who made the most of himself and our entire community,\u201d said 51ÁÔÆæ Chancellor Mark Mone. \u201cHis level of caring and impact at 51ÁÔÆæ and in the region are without measure. Bernie and his family have had a profound impact. He will be dearly missed.\u201d<\/p>\n
A businessman and philanthropist, Peck attended 51ÁÔÆæ before going into the family business, Peck Meat Packing Corporation. In 2001, the university recognized his numerous contributions in the Milwaukee area with an honorary doctor of fine arts degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Peck family, through the generosity of Bernie and Micki Peck, made possible a new level of artistic achievement for generations of arts students at 51ÁÔÆæ,\u201d said Diane Grace, director, major and planned giving for the 51ÁÔÆæ Office of Development. \u201cWe will be forever grateful for their vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to running a successful business for more than 40 years, Peck was one of Milwaukee\u2019s leading philanthropists. Through the Peck Foundation, Bernie Peck and his family contributed to the Peck Welcome Center at the Milwaukee County Zoo, the Peck Pavilion\u00a0at the Marcus Center, the Peck Aquatic Center at the Jewish Community Center, and the Peck Chapel at Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun.<\/p>\n
Bernie Peck also served on numerous community and charitable boards in Milwaukee and in Broward County, Florida, including the Milwaukee Ballet, the Zoological Society of Wisconsin, Alverno College, the Karl Jewish Community Campus and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
He had a particular interest in the arts because of the encouragement of his mother, he told an interviewer. (See video).<\/p>\n
Peck did much of his good work behind the scenes, Sister Joel Read, former president of Alverno College, told the Milwaukee Business Journal in a 1999 profile.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a great fan of Bernie Peck,\u201d she said. \u201cHe always makes you feel better when you\u2019re around him. He\u2019s very upbeat. He keeps a light heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
As evidence of that light heart, he enjoyed collecting and restoring antique cars and was a fan of circuses, particularly clowns. He was president of the International Clown Hall of Fame,<\/p>\n
Marcia Parsons, professor of dance, met the Peck family through their involvement with the Peck School of the Arts and efforts to buy the former temple for a 51ÁÔÆæ arts performance space.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have all been very generous and involved with 51ÁÔÆæ and the arts, and just such darn nice people,\u201d Parsons said.<\/p>\n
Peck is survived by his wife of 66 years, Miriam Peck; two daughters, Karen Peck Katz of Milwaukee, and Jodi Peck, of Fort Lauderdale; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandsons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bernard Peck, a long-time 51ÁÔÆæ benefactor whose family lent its name to the Peck School of the Arts, will be honored today, Oct. 22, with a memorial service. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":835,"featured_media":21936,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[174],"tags":[],"section":[122,123],"display_categories":[],"related-coverage":[],"uwmnews-feed":[344,164],"class_list":["post-21931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","section-campus-community","section-campus-partnerships","uwmnews-feed-arts-architecture","uwmnews-feed-arts"],"yoast_head":"\n