The Computer Science and Engineering department lost one of its key staff members with the passing on January 5 of its Management Service Officer, Donald Peters-Coville, after a prolonged battle with Sjögren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder. As MSO, he was the chief administrative officer of the department for the past decade.
“It is a day of loss and mourning for us,” says CSE Chair Rajesh Gupta, who recalls becoming Chair five years ago at a time of financial crisis on the campus. “Little did I know that Don was handling a difficult job of a sprawling department with extraordinary calm. He kept our spirits high and provided smooth sailing for the department through those times until his health started failing in recent years.”
Don was devoted to and survived by his wife, the former Michele Peters (near right); they both adopted the double-barreled Peters-Coville family name when they wed. Don was also survived by Sadie and Sophie, the couple’s two Tibetan Terriers (pictured at right on Don's lap alongside wife Michele).
Don Coville graduated in the Class of ’75 at McClintock High School in Tempe, AZ. He went on to receive a B.S. in Economics from Arizona State University (also in Tempe) in 1979. He was a property administrator at ASU in 1986-88, and later worked in the hospitality industry as a hotel controller. In December 2000, he joined UC San Diego, initially through Temporary Employment Services, but within months he became an Administrative Analyst in the Chemistry department, where he worked until 2003.
His affiliation with the Computer Science and Engineering department began in September 2003, when he was promoted to Senior Administrative Analyst and Financial Manager of CSE. Don supervised the fiscal and human-resources staff and maintained all financial records for departmental and state funds.
In November 2005, as CSE moved from its long-time home in the Applied Physics and Mathematics (AP&M) building to a newly-constructed home of its own on the Engineering Courtyard, CSE again promoted Don to MSO. He held that position for 10 years.
“Don treated everyone like they were part of his family,” recalls CSE lecturer Rick Ord (far left, visiting Peters-Coville in late 2015). “He was an avid ‘Parrot Head’ who loved Jimmy Buffett music, wore Hawaiian shirts often, went to many Buffett concerts, and participated in many of the San Diego Parrot Head Club events.”
In addition to music and all things Buffett, Don had wide-ranging interests in his personal life, including cooking and fine dining, running and animals. “He was an animal lover and dedicated dog rescuer, and Don took in many from less fortunate situations,” recalls CSE human resources coordinator Kathy Johns. “Many of us were privileged to meet some of his dogs when they accompanied him to the office.”
Plans for a memorial/remembrance will be announced at a later date.