Peter Kiar Obituary

Kiar, Peter S.

Peter S. Kiar, photographer, was a native of Mount Vernon, New York and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati before settling in Chicago as a graphic designer. He cofounded a design office there but his real passion was photography, and it became his lifelong career. His favorite images were captured in his regular outings roaming through streets, whether in Chicago or in some foreign country. Like any great photographer, he was guided by his innate sense of timing and inspiration. Friends can testify that he was seldom seen without a camera. Peter is known for his photographs at The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Herman Miller. His photos can be found in many corporate and university collections as well as the Smithsonian Institution's archives. Peter was most proud of his portraiture work. His photos reveal a special ability to capture the intelligence and emotion of his subject, whether friend, corporate president, or man on the street. Peter enjoyed a wide variety of friendships in the Chicago art, architectural, and design communities, and often used his talent in support of his many friends, who will miss him. An early interest in motorcycling transformed to bicycling, which led to his becoming an avid cyclist, both in the US and Europe. His other interests included a wide range of music from Blues to Classical, the works of Shakespeare and a particular passion for anything well-designed. An avid Francophile, he was a lifelong student of their language which spilled over into his enthusiasm for French cuisine, that he loved to prepare for his friends. He will be reunited with his father Svend E. Kiar, a veteran killed in WWII, and his mother, Martha (Gresham) Kiar buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge UK. He is survived by Monroe D. Kiar of Florida and Irene (Kiar) Berman of Israel. If you would like to make a donation in honor of Peter, please consider WTTW, www.wttw.com, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Cremation Society of Illinois, 773-281-5058 or www.cremation-society.com.

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