Peter Diehl

Peter Diehl, age 84, died Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his family. Peter was born here in Columbus, OH. He is preceded in death by his grandson, Jonathan. Peter is survived by his loving wife, Helen (Pidge) Diehl; sons, Michael (Cristina Rabadán-) Diehl, Steven (Lori) Diehl; sister, Sally (Brian) Kriska; grandchildren, Austin, Alexander, Kensley Diehl and Casey Diehl-Ehrenberg.

Pete graduated from University High in 1954. He lettered in basketball there for the Little Bucks. His high school years were also filled with building and flying model airplanes, modifying a “little douce coup” Ford hot rod, and pursuing various high jinks and pranks. After high school, he joined the Army Reserve where he served until May of 1963. He attended Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio, where he majored in philosophy, met Pidge, his wife of 61 1/2 years, and graduated in 1959. He graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Mass., in 1963, with a Master of Divinity degree. His internship was at First Community Church in Columbus, and he was ordained to Christian ministry there on June 9, 1963. He served as Associate minister of the South Hadley, Mass., Congregational Church, and later as senior minister at Essex Congregational Church, in Essex, Connecticut. Upon leaving Connecticut, Pete joined the faculty at Miami-Dade Community College as a staff and organizational development consultant, later heading a counseling service at the Medical Center Campus, and subsequently serving as a consultant to local business and industry in Miami, until 1998, when he began teaching computer and educational courses. He retired from Miami-Dade in 2000, after 30 years of service.

Returning to Columbus in retirement, Pete indulged his photography hobby, taking pictures all over the world, from Africa, China, South America, Europe, and the United States. He also turned over a major part of his consulting activities to a niece, Laura Kriska, in the form of an innovation training exercise designed to promote teamwork and good work relationships. Laura has continued this work, reaching over a 1000 people on four continents. For many years he volunteered at First Community Church as a discussion leader, as well as some assignments for the Central Southeast Association of the Ohio United Church of Christ.

A devoted family man, Pete loved being around his sons and grandchildren, thoroughly enjoying their accomplishments and adventures. He has usually been characterized as funny, sweet, and very smart in a rather offbeat way. Never afraid to take a new challenge, when Pete moved to First Community Village, he served as photographer for the 20-page monthly newsletter, The Villager, and delighted in organizing new opportunities for fellow residents to get together and get to know each other.

Family has entrusted SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST with final arrangements. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Peter’s name are encouraged to be made to https://www.nationalchurchresidences.org/donate/first-community-village-foundation/#, or the First Community Village Foundation, to either the Sustaining fund or the Employee Hardship fund, 1800 Riverside Drive, Columbus, Ohio, 43212.

A virtual memorial Service is planned on being web casted on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 5 p.m. Please visit https://fcchurch.com/fc-video/ to view Pete's service.