Obituary for Peter P. Pratt

Peter Philip Pratt

East Lansing

Peter Pratt, aged 59, died, surrounded by his family, on October 11, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. He was, in every sense of the phrase, a good man—a loving husband, an engaged father, a protective big brother, a weird (but in a good way) uncle, a wonderful son, son-in-law & brother-in-law.

His highest priority, always, was his family, whom he loved fiercely and completely. He adored and respected his wife Linda, and never let a day go by without telling her how very much he loved her and how much he valued the life they built together. His love wasn’t bold or ostentatious; instead, the two of them found great joy in the quiet moments and small gestures that only long-married couples appreciate and understand.

His daughter Elizabeth was his greatest joy and biggest accomplishment. He never hesitated to share his love or knowledge with her and was always a voice of reason and warmth. From long phone calls at all hours to cheering her on at sporting events and concerts, from spending half a day in Schuler’s picking out books to making frequent trips for ice cream, Peter supported her in every way imaginable. He was particularly proud when Elizabeth followed in his footsteps by attending the University of Michigan and declaring English as one of her majors.

The first thing people noticed when they met Peter was his exceptional mind and nearly photographic memory. He could recall every hole on every golf course he played, including its yardage, what clubs he hit, and, more astonishingly, what clubs Linda hit. For almost any song on the radio, he knew its title, when it was originally recorded and by whom, who covered it and when, and could tell you a story about where he was and what he was doing when he first heard it. Peter was equally knowledgeable about literature, which is no surprise given his extraordinary passion for reading—he was never without a book. One of his greatest joys was recommending the perfect book to those closest to him.

Peter considered himself a lucky man, who found great satisfaction in many things. He took enormous pride in his company, Public Sector Consultants, where he spent over thirty years working with an impressive group of people committed to improving Michigan. He was particularly passionate about health care and early childhood issues, always advocating for those whose voices were not heard. In addition, Peter loved traveling with his family and friends; playing sports and music with his childhood buddies, spending quiet mornings reminiscing with his sisters in Traverse City, volunteering on boards and donating to meaningful causes, and, perhaps most importantly, becoming a Golf Digest rater.

People from all walks of life were drawn to Peter because he was an engaging conversationalist who found a way to connect on a highly personal level. He was also humble, compassionate, insightful, and quick to laugh. When he entered a room, his loud voice introduced him, but his calm presence immediately put people at ease. We will dearly miss that presence.

Peter is survived by his wife Linda Headley, his daughter Elizabeth Pratt, and his two sisters Laura Jolly (Ron) and Katy Heuton (Brad). His parents Philip Pratt and Mary Charlotte Pratt (Hill) went before him.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, October 19 from 5:30-8:00 pm at Gorsline Runciman in East Lansing. A memorial service will be held in the same location on Friday, October 20 at 3:00 pm. Donations in Peter’s memory should be made to the Greater Lansing Food Bank, P. O. Box 16224, Lansing, MI 48901, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Ste. 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, or any of the mid-Michigan YMCAs.

Online condolences may be made at https://publicsectorconsultants.com/peter/