Former Auburn City Councilmember and Deputy Mayor Bill Peloza, 86, died Wednesday evening after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

“Auburn has lost one of its greatest advocates,” Mayor Nancy Backus said in a city news release. “Bill was a strong believer in, and enthusiastic supporter of, his community and his country. I was proud to work with Bill during his 16 years of service on the Auburn City Council as he would search for new solutions to old problems.

“He loved celebrating the rich ancestry and culture of our City in a way that brought us all new appreciation for the importance of community. He always gave as much attention to the big picture as he did to the tiniest detail. Current and future generations will benefit from the legacy he has left us. I will greatly miss his smile and sense of humor, and will always be inspired by his servant heart.”.

Peloza served four terms on the council from 2004 to 2019 He served as deputy mayor during his final year on council, ending in December. He was the Auburn Reporter’s 2019 Person of the Year.

During his tenure on the council, Peloza served on the Valley Regional Fire Authority Governance Board of Directors and on a number of regional committees including the National League of Cities Board of Director’s Advisory Committee, Sound Cities Association – King County Regional Policy Committee, King County Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Committee, KC Metropolitan Water Pollution Abatement Advisory Committee, KC Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA 9 Green River/ Duwamish & Central Puget Sound Watershed) – Management Committee.

He also served as an alternate on the King County Flood Control District Advisory Committee and as a member of the South County Advisory Transportation Board, the Association of Washington Cities Federal Legislative Priorities Committee and the Rail Transport of Hazardous Material’s ad-hoc committee.

As a council project in 2007, Peloza formed a community steering committee for a community farmers market. In 2009, the Auburn International Farmer’s Market was inaugurated and continues to serve the community, welcoming nearly 25,000 visitors annually.

Peloza was well in known in the community for his civic dedication and was an active member in the Auburn Sons of Italy Lodge #1955, where he served as a member and trustee; the Auburn Veterans of Foreign Wars All American Post 1741 where he served as a life-long member and former post commander; and Auburn Rotary Club where he formerly served on the board of directors.

“Bill and Joyce have been members of the Auburn Sons of Italy for 18 years,” said Ronnie Beyersdorf, secretary of the Auburn Sons of Italy, in a joint statement with his wife, Rosetta Stella Beyersdorf, state president of the Sons and Daughters of Italy Grand Lodge of NW. “Bill has been a Trustee officer, however, more than that, he was always supportive of our ongoing Sons of Italy service to the Auburn Community and promoted that with our membership and in the Auburn Community. Bill exemplified public service, dignity, leadership and most of all fraternal friendship. He also never forgot to recognize those who made contributions, including our veterans. It is a privilege to know him.”

Peloza’s service also included work as a member and trustee for the Auburn Elks Lodge #1808, the Auburn Airport Advisory as board chair, the White River Valley Museum board of directors, the ACAP board of directors, the Auburn Symphony Association as a member and the Boeing Management Association retiree chapter as president.

In addition, he served as president of the Green River Men’s Golf Club and Auburn Youth Soccer Club, as commissioner for the South King County Soccer Referee’s Association, as Junior Achievement Advisory member and instructor, as a Chinook Elementary School PTA member and as the Des Moines Junior Chamber of Commerce president.

Peloza attended the University of Washington School of Business and UCLA, where he studied government contract management. He retired from Boeing after 38 years of service. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, member of Holy Family Church, and an integral part of Auburn’s Lea Hill community where he lived with his wife, Joyce.

Services

The family isn’t able to have a formal funeral at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said city of Auburn communications manager Kayln Brady in an email.

Brady said the city will eventually hold some sort of celebration of life for Peloza, but it will likely not be for several months due to social distancing, etc.

Video tribute

The city of Auburn posted a video tribute to Peloza on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Mn0U8CPV3mY.