The late Padres’ Chairman Peter Seidler has received a prestigious honor from the San Diego Rotary, which named him the 69th Mr. San Diego.
His wife, Sheel Seidler, and his brother, Tom Seidler, accepted the award on his behalf before more than 200 people at the Liberty Station Conference Center main hall.
Attendees stood to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and listened to stories of Seidler’s community contributions from Padres CEO Erik Greupner, the team’s skipper Mike Shildt, pitcher Joe Musgrove and Dan Shea, CEO of Feeding San Diego.
Members of the San Diego Rotary Selection Committee, comprised of past club presidents, selected Seidler and notified him of his selection just before he died in November.
“Though it breaks my heart that Peter isn’t here to experience this celebration in his name, it brings me great joy that he was able to accept the award before he passed last year and that his wife and brother are here today to see just how much we all loved him,” said Michael Brunker, president of San Diego Rotary.
The annual Mr./Mrs./Ms. San Diego Award, first offered in 1952, since has been given on a nearly annual basis to a person deemed to have been a consistent and outstanding community contributor to San Diego.
The committee selected Seidler not just for his work with the Padres, but also his commitment to making San Diego a better place.
He spearheaded multiple enhancements to Petco Park and as an outspoken activist for those without shelter, Peter founded the Tuesday Group to focus on how to address and solve the homeless crisis.
Tom Seidler, the Padres’ executive vice president for community and international impact, described his late brother’s commitment to advocating for a sports culture in the region.
“You go around North County, South County, even in Tijuana, and see Padres caps and see the brown and gold, it’s a baseball city. It was not like that 12 years ago, so Peter’s legacy is firmly established,” Tom Seidler said. “… It’s a legacy for Peter that will last forever and we will do our part to keep that going.”
Additionally, Tom Seidler announced a $10,000 commitment to the Storefront Youth Community Shelter during the luncheon. Prior to Peter Seidler’s death, the brothers had planned on making the donation during the award ceremony.
The donation for the only emergency youth homeless shelter in San Diego will be matched by the Lucky Duck Foundation, for a total of $20,000.
“I talk to Peter all the time. I don’t know what everyone thinks about that but it really works for me. And I asked him, you know, what should I tell everyone? I think one observation I have about this business is that you can always afford to be kind, no matter what conversation you’re having,” said Sheel Seidler, as she accepted the Mr. San Diego award on behalf of her husband.
Notable San Diegans to be given the Mr./Mrs./Ms. San Diego title include Father Joe Carroll, Cecil Steppe, Leon Williams, Patti Roscoe, Yvonne Larsen, Deborah Szekely, Malin Burnham, and, most recently, former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.
Rotary members who attended Thursday’s luncheon also received special “PS” patches — the same worn on the Padres’ uniforms this season in Seidler’s honor.