SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego Padres chairman and owner Peter Seidler has died, according to a press release from the organization.
Seidler passed away Tuesday in San Diego at the age of 63. The team did not provide a cause of death.
Padres CEO Erik Greupner says the organization is mourning for the Seidler family, calling Peter a beloved owner.
“Today, our love and prayers encircle Peter’s family as they grieve the loss of an extraordinary husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Peter was a kind and generous man who was devoted to his wife, children, and extended family," Greupner says. "He also consistently exhibited heartfelt compassion for others, especially those less fortunate. His impact on the city of San Diego and the baseball world will be felt for generations. His generous spirit is now firmly embedded in the fabric of the Padres. Although he was our Chairman and owner, Peter was at his core a Padres fan. He will be dearly missed.”
The Padres opened the Home Plate Gate at Petco Park Tuesday afternoon for people who wish to pay their respects. Free parking was available at the Tailgate Lot.
Just awful news. The Peter I knew was a kind and empathetic man. https://t.co/rXnSmPRudP
— Ben Higgins (@BenHigginsSD) November 14, 2023
In September, the Padres released a statement saying he underwent an undisclosed medical procedure and wouldn't return to the ballpark for the 2023 season. Seidler was a two-time survivor of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Seidler was part of the group that bought the Padres in 2012 and later purchased the majority stake in Nov. 2020. His family's history is intertwined with baseball; Seidler was a third-generation member of the O'Malley family that used to own the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to the Associated Press.
As owner, he invested heavily in all aspects of the Padres organization, including the roster, ballpark and the San Diego community itself.
One of his most notable accomplishments was elevating the fan experience at Petco Park into one of the best the MLB has to offer. The city-owned park has quite the reputation as a top-tier sports venue, earning the title as USA Today's #1 Ballpark for several years in a row.
Seidler followed through on the Padres' "more than a ballpark" promise to the community, bringing other sports, concerts and other community events to the venue.
Off the field, Seidler accelerated the Padres' philanthropic efforts. Under his leadership, the Padres Foundation multiplied its donations by more than 10, exponentially improving support for underserved communities in San Diego and Baja.
The Padres also got more involved and worked hand-in-hand with the following organizations under Seidler: Rady Children's Hospital, Monarch School, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys & Girls Club, Build A Miracle and Veterans Village of San Diego.
The Padres Pedal the Cause has raised more than $18 million for local cancer research.
Although all of these contributions to charity are admirable, Seidler mainly focused on relieving the suffering of homeless people.
In 2017, he created the "Tuesday Group," which meets weekly to come up with solutions to San Diego's homelessness crisis. He formed the group with local politicians, businesses and philanthropic leaders.
The group's goal is to provide necessary aid to the most vulnerable people in the homeless population.
Seidler was awarded with the following honors for his work in combating homelessness:
- 2017 San Diego Public Official of the Year awarded by the Building Owners and Managers Association
- 2017 San Diego Nice Guy of the Year, the 2018 National Conflict Resolution Center Annual Peacemaker Award
- 2018 San Diego Downtown Partnership Founder Award
In 2019, Seidler was one of two private citizens added to the Leadership Council for San Diego's Homelessness Reduction Plan. He was also named the San Diegan of the Year in 2022 by the San Diego Union Tribune. The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce also recognized him with the Herb Klein Spirit of San Diego Award in 2023.
Seidler was a co-founder and managing partner of Seidler Equity Partners, a private equity investment firm providing capital and management support to founders of entrepreneurial companies across the U.S. and Australia. SEP was formed in 1992 and currently manages more than $5 billion in assets, according to the Padres' bio on Seidler.
He and his wife, Sheel, have donated to many health and medical issues as part of their philanthropic activities.
Some of the charities they've supported over the years included the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the American Cancer Society, Home Start (San Diego-based, focuses on preventing child abuse) and several health and wellness initiatives at The Mayo Clinic.
Additionally, Seidler was a founding member of the Stand Up To Cancer Legacy Endowment Circle and a primary donor to the Lucky Duck Foundation, which is San Diego's leading homelessness charity.
Seidler earned his bachelor's degree in Commerce at the University of Virginia and his MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Seidler is survived by his wife, their three children, his mother and nine brothers and sisters.
