Planned Giving
Peter Guthmann (z”l) lived a life of purpose, curiosity, and extraordinary generosity.
“Peter was the original Renaissance man,” says his cousin and estate trustee, Ralph Ellis. He loved books, classical music, film, photography, and travel, having explored all seven continents and all 50 states. Yet despite his refined tastes and many passions, Peter lived sensibly so he could donate generously. As Ralph recalls, “That’s just who he was.”
That instinct to give was rooted in both identity and experience. Born in Mannheim, Germany, in 1935, Peter fled Nazi persecution with his family, first to South Africa and then to Greensboro, North Carolina, where he spent his teenage years and, later, his retirement following a successful engineering career. Though he rarely spoke about his early experiences, those who knew him understood that his Jewish identity and his commitment to Jewish causes were shaped by that history.
A devoted member of Beth David Synagogue, Peter believed deeply in the importance of sustaining the Jewish people and the land of Israel. “He was of that generation of Jews for whom Israel was central,” Ralph says. “Supporting Jewish National Fund was simply a part of that.”
Later in life, Peter met his beloved wife, Barbara Zaleon Guthmann (z”l). Though they shared only ten years together, their love story helped shape the thoughtful, values-driven legacy he left behind. “I think her passing contributed to his clarity around what he wanted to support long-term,” Ralph says.
Through both lifetime giving and thoughtful estate planning, including IRA and stock gifts, Peter ensured his commitment would endure. For him, planned giving was not separate from his values; it was one of its clearest expressions. “His legacy was supporting the Jewish people, supporting Israel, and ensuring Jewish life could continue,” Ralph reflects.
Ralph shares that Peter “gave generously and cared deeply.” Through his legacy gift to Jewish National Fund, that spirit lives on—supporting the land and people of Israel and helping to sustain a strong Jewish future for generations to come.
Leave your legacy with Jewish National Fund. Call 800.562.7526 or email plannedgiving@jnf.org
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