Peter was born in Janesville, WI to Lillian Dudley and Peter Bays, Sr. on December 28, 1926, or as he would explain "3 days after Christmas". Growing up in Chicago, IL, Peter attended Foreigner Technical School and his interest in engineering and building was born. Peter waited until he was old enough to enlist without his parents approval to enlist in the Army and was sent to Tokyo to work in Communications. Peter's love of the ocean started on that ship from California to Japan. Peter met his Joanie while working as a mechanic and it was "magic". Soon they were married and started welcoming their children into the world. Peter had started working at A.B. Dick Co, which produced copying and duplicating equipment, and Peter helped develop a standard of the industry that is still used today. After working in development, Peter then turned to sales. He and Joanie moved to California in 1957, where Peter worked in sales for A.B. Dick for the western region. He was often gone on the road, flying over 100,000 miles in 1959 with United Airlines. It's during this time that he and Joanie claimed the song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" as "their song". Peter's traveling made him feel like he'd left his heart in San Francisco with Joanie and the kids. In 1962 Peter received his own branch to manage and the family relocated to San Jose. Peter was a successful branch manager and often in the top 3 managers in the country. It's also during this time Peter reconnected with his love of the water. While starting with a small boat, the Flying Junior, Peter and the family enjoyed boating on lakes in California and eventually owning a 24 ft Columbia sailboat, Wind Song, harbored in Santa Cruz. Many weekends were spent sailing in Monterey Bay. Peter retired in 1981 and he and Joanie hit the road in their motor home. They enjoyed visiting family and friends, seeing new sights and "wintering" in Apache Junction, AZ. As the years started to take their toll, Peter and Joanie relocated to San Diego to be near their oldest daughter. Peter always enjoyed life to the fullest and loved talking to people. His family will always remember his wit and sense of humor and his "steel trap mind". He will be greatly missed and always loved! All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it - we are going back from whence we came." John F. Kennedy