Peter once had it all – a prestigious career as an aerospace engineer, a wife and two children. But when he quit his job due a major crisis within the company, it all came crashing down.

Always intrigued by alcohol – “I used to sneak Gallo wine from my parents as a pre-teen,” he explains – Peter turned to the bottle (as well as marijuana) to numb the pain. “While the drinking escalated, my marriage disintegrated,” he explains.

The struggle was real – so real that Peter attempted to commit suicide in 2007. When the contractor’s cord he was using to hang himself broke, however – something that should not have happened – he realized that he had more life to live, and entered a rehab program.

After achieving sobriety for a number of years, Peter found himself struggling again, and entered another rehab in 2017. Peter moved to an Action Alliance residence after completing the program, and is now a house manager for the organization. He is about to retire from the Salvation Army, where he’s been a Vehicle Donation Officer for the past several years. He also credits AA with helping him maintain his sobriety, including a trusted sponsor.

Today, Peter has a solid relationship with his children and three young grandchildren, who call him the Science Guy, thanks to his love for science and the natural world. His family is local, so he sees them on a regular basis. He’s also on good terms with his ex-wife and her long-time gentleman friend – in fact, they socialize and BBQ together on occasion! He’s also grateful that this same gentleman was able to be there for his kids when he couldn’t be.

Although Peter missed his children’s formative years – “I drank my way out of being a family man,” he notes – he’s grateful that his grandkids are now part of his life. He is also blessed by his Action Alliance family. “One of my residents recently told me I’m like the dad he never had!” notes Peter.

Peter enjoys being creative, building things (like telescopes!) and gardening. And, he’s working on a book – he’s even in talks with a major publisher! Ultimately, he’s passionate about creating a sense of family at the Action Alliance house he manages, relying on his Christian faith to lead him. “I look at my house as the Holy Spirit’s nest!” he says.