November 1926 — October 2025
Heriberto Petschek, whose productive, generous, and eventful life spanned almost 10 decades and three continents, died at age 98 in his home in Shoreline, Washington, after a short illness. Beloved by family members and friends, Mr. Petschek will be remembered for his post-retirement volunteer work in Ashland, Oregon, classrooms; for his love of the arts, music, and the outdoors; as well as his devotion to his two daughters and five grandchildren and their spouses.
Mr. Petschek was born in the capital city of the Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia), Prague, in 1926. His Jewish family fled ahead of the Nazi regime in 1938, first to England and later to Buenos Aires, Argentina. He attended the University of California-Berkeley, majoring in chemical engineering. He met his wife, Frances at the university hiking club, and they returned to Argentina, where they raised their two daughters.
Political forces again upended the Petscheks, and the family left Argentina in 1975 amid the Dirty War waged by a brutal military junta. Immigrating to Portland, Mr. Petschek continued to manage the family’s small Argentina-based pharmaceutical company. Before his career in his family’s business, he worked for Eveready Battery Company.
After retirement, the Petscheks relocated from Portland to Ashland, where they led busy lives as volunteers. Mr. Petschek volunteered for years in elementary school classrooms. “He absolutely loved working with children,” said Debora Petschek, a daughter. “All his students would remember him, and he loved seeing them as adults.” In Ashland, Mr. Petschek also served on the board of the Ashland Food Bank, and the couple was involved in several animal adoption agencies and arts organizations.
In 2022, after Frances’s death, Mr. Petschek moved one final time to the Seattle area, to be near his daughters, Debora and Sandra, and their children. Known as “Opi” by the grandchildren, Mr. Petschek was happily involved in their careers and lives, attending music performances, weddings, and other special events.
Mr. Petschek is survived by his daughters, Debora Petschek (David Wakeley) and Sandra Petschek; his “heart daughters” Marina Hanson and Alejandra Hanson; five grandchildren: Christopher Zarlengo (Ghayda Mirzaa), Kristina Davis (John Davis), Michael Wakeley, Robert Wakeley (Alexis Evers), and Selina Petschek (Mary DuBose); six nieces and nephews and a niece and nephew from Frances’ family, as well as numerous great nieces and nephews who considered him like a grandfather.
Though he was the oldest son of Friedrich and Louise Petschek, he survived his three brothers, Felix, Egon, and Rudi.
A celebration of life for Mr. Petschek will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at Aegis Living Shoreline, 14900 First Ave N.E., Shoreline, Washington. The family requests that memorial donations be made in Mr. Petschek’s honor to any of the charitable causes he and Frances supported.
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