Peter Klaus Hacker, M.D.
1940-2024
Dr. Peter K. Hacker passed away on July 28, 2024 at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, Calif., where he had served as director of Emergency Services from 1978 through 1985.
The son of art historian and ceramic designer Hans Hacker and Johanna Hacker, Pete was born in East Liverpool, Ohio on Dec. 13, 1940. He graduated from East Liverpool High School where he ran track and cross country and was a member of the National Honor Society. He often spoke fondly of East Liverpool, saying it was a great place to grow up. He left to attend The Ohio State University in Columbus where he majored in Chemistry, and continued on there to earn his Medical Degree.
Having attained his Doctor of Medicine degree, Pete left Ohio for an internship at Maricopa General Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. After his internship, with the Vietnam War in progress, he enlisted in the US Navy, where, as Lieutenant Commander, he became the Chief Medical Officer of a destroyer squadron in the Tonkin Gulf in Southeast Asia. Because of his service in Vietnam, Pete was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, and the Combat Action Award.
Following his tour of duty in Southeast Asia, Pete was stationed at the US Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif., serving as a General Medical Officer. While there, he was made aware of the new opportunities regarding Emergency Medicine, and relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1970 to begin his work as an Emergency Department physician at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward. He joined a group of physicians with the goal of making Emergency Medicine a speciality. Through this group he also worked at Washington Hospital in Fremont, and over the years, became licensed in 16 states to help spread the concept of independently run emergency departments. Emergency medicine became a recognized medical specialty in the U.S. in 1979, and Pete was proud to become board certified in 1980.
In 1972 a chance meeting with the then heavyweight boxing contender George Foreman resulted in a friendship, and Pete became his personal physician as well. He traveled with Foreman’s entourage to various fight locales, doing the pre-fight physicals in Jamaica, Venezuela, and Zaire.
In his free time, Pete enjoyed traveling with his family, skiing, deep sea fishing in Mexico, and golfing. Getting a hole in one in Scottsdale, Ariz. was a real thrill.
He will be remembered as an excellent clinician, respected by his colleagues, having a positive attitude, generous, and always having a good joke to tell. A loyal family man, Pete always made an effort to attend all his children’s sporting and school events, even after having worked an overnight shift. Besides being a lifelong Buckeye fan, he also cheered on the Oakland Raiders, Athletics, and Warriors.
Pete is survived by his wife and best friend of almost 50 years, Pat (Ahboltin), his sons Matthew, Jeremy and Jonathan, daughter-in-law Alejandra, daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Zach Steffes, and his cherished granddaughter Charlotte Jo (Charlie). He was preceded in death by his brother Hans Ulrich (Uli) Hacker. Pete will be missed greatly by all of us, along with his nieces, nephews, and sister Barbara Gilmore.
10/26/24