Peter Kernen passed away unexpectedly on June 9 after suffering an aortic dissection. Born in Thun, Switzerland to Jakob and Margrit Kernen, he was the third of four children.

Peter grew up in the village of Reutigen, nestled at the foot of the Bernese alps, where he attended elementary school and went to high school in Bern where he met Eveline, his future wife, in class. They married ten years later while attending the University of Bern, and three years afterward their son, Manuel, was born. After completing his PhD, Peter became a post-doctoral fellow at the bioenergetics laboratory at the University of Geneva. From there he worked as a scientific collaborator at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich where he met a future colleague who would eventually draw him to California. Before leaving Switzerland, he became a Senior Research Coordinator at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA), and in 1999, the Kernen family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where Peter joined Zyomyx, a biotech start-up. In 2017 he became a senior director for Reagent & Clinical Operations at Fluxus, Inc. His work ethic was outstanding, and he met his responsibilities without complaint at both work and home.

Peter was deeply loyal to his family, friends, and co-workers. He was one of those rare people who truly knew how to listen. Quiet, yet with a keen sense of humor, he laughed easily, and loved a good joke. Everyone who hosted him for dinner knew that after the meal, no one but Peter would be allowed to do the dishes! A musician, who played the trombone and directed a brass ensemble, he loved all genres of music (except opera), but especially jazz. He also enjoyed hiking, skiing, jogging, and playing soccer with Manuel, come rain or shine. After moving to California, Peter followed almost every sport there is and even became a baseball fan!

Peter is survived by his wife, Eveline, and his son Manuel, as well as his mother, Margrit, brother Gerhard, sisters Marlise and Liselotte, and his dearly loved nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many extended family members and the friends, neighbors, and colleagues from various world nations to whom he left a rich legacy of laughter, knowledge, and wisdom. We will remember him always with admiration, gratitude, and love.

Memorial services will be held in Switzerland at the end of June and California in early October.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CDI Summer Project Appeal at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/CDI

The family would like to invite you to share remembrances of Peter by visiting the website, Crippen & Flynn Funeral Chapels .