Peter Fortnum Worsley

Peter Fortnum Worsley

Peter Fortnum Worsley was born in Boston, MA. on January 11, 1943 and died of natural causes on November 16, 2022 in San Luis Obispo, CA. He was just shy of his 80th birthday. Peter attended the Landon School in Bethesda, MD. and went on to Yale University where he received a degree in American Literature. After moving to San Francisco in 1965, Peter attended the San Francisco Art Institute and received a B.F.A. in Photography. He went on to teach arts and crafts at Two Rock Army base in Petaluma, CA. briefly before starting his career as an accomplished carpenter and farmer.

Peter lived in Inverness, CA. and Point Reyes, CA. for close to 46 years. In the early years he was a skilled, self-taught carpenter and built many houses in West Marin. He later honed his craft and focused on windows, doors and cabinets. Much of the furniture in his house was made with his own hands. Peter was a volunteer with the Inverness Fire Department, a founding member of Environmental Action Committee and served on the board of the Inverness Association.

Following his interest in organic food and fruit trees, Peter took up small-scale farming. He, formed the “growers group”, which eventually morphed into Marin Organic, the catalyst behind the Point Reyes Farmers Market. For many years, Peter sold an array of produce at the market, including delicata squash, lettuce, potatoes, spinach and raspberries. When he retired from farming, he returned to his passion for photography.

Peter is survived by his ex-wife, Lila Purinton, daughters Hannah Worsley Held (Smitty) and Clare Worsley, Grand Daughters, Emma Held and Molly Held, and Great Grandson, Arthur Held-Cunningham. His daughters held a family gathering before Thanksgiving to celebrate his life.