Obituary of Peter William Lock

Peter Lock, 89, passed away on Thursday August 27, 2020. Peter was born in Desborough, England in 1931 to William Edward Lock and Agnes (Nessie) Bonar Lock (nee Manson). Peter attended Bedford Boarding School in Bedford, England for many years and had a love of sports, becoming a member of the school boxing team. Through a school organization he learned what would become one of his lifelong passions, sailing, on the lakes of the Norfolk Broads on the east coast of England. Peter also developed a love of golf during his youth when he and his brother Richard would often ride their bikes five miles to the local course. He would go on to enjoy playing and watching golf throughout his life. He had an appreciation for the outdoors and enjoyed camping with his parents and siblings Richard and Sue. In 1946, during their first camping trip after World War II, they discovered Mother Ivey’s Bay in Cornwall, a place they would return to often. His family continues to take camping vacations in the area to this day. Upon leaving school with a scholarship to Oxford University, Peter first served his compulsory 18 months in the British Army until 1951, achieving the rank of 2nd Lieutenant while stationed in Germany. After his military service he attended Oxford where he studied French and German, graduating with a B.A. He then travelled to Paris and Madrid to further his language studies over the next two years. In 1956 Peter went to Canada and taught at Bishops College near Montreal for two years before he and a friend set off on an adventure around the United States. He eventually travelled up the west coast and ended up in the San Francisco Bay area, where he began work on his P.H.D. at Berkeley College, studying Spanish and Italian. It was there in 1958 that he met and married Marian Glasspool, and his two children were born, Chris in 1960, and Kim in 1963. Upon finishing his P.H.D. at Berkeley in 1963, Peter and the family moved to New Hampshire, where he taught at Dartmouth College. After two years there he took a position as a professor at the University of Minnesota, teaching in the French department for the next 17 years. In 1982 Peter retired early from the U of M and bought a sailboat in England. With his second wife Melissa Anderson he sailed across the English Channel, through the canals of France, and out into the Mediteranean, living on the boat and exploring for years. They especially liked Greece and shared their wonderful adventures with many visiting family members and friends, creating lifetime memories for all. When Peter returned to the U.S., he continued to teach and mentor through the U of M, and also worked as a technical writer. He was still involved in sailing, sharing his knowledge and passion with the Sailing Club of the University of Minnesota. He enjoyed travelling well into his eighties and, in his later years, continued to make new friends while always cherishing his long time relationships. He will be missed by many. Preceded in death by his parents Nessie and Bill, and sister Sue. Survived by his son Chris (Lori) Lock, daughter Kim Lock, grandson Colin Lock, and brother Richard (Margaret) Lock. A private family memorial will be held as a celebration of his life. Memorial contributions may be made to The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum or Minnesota Public Radio.