Peter Sage Tillotson, 81

Peter Sage Tillotson, 81

Peter Sage Tillotson died unexpectedly at his home in Hayden, Idaho, on Feb. 7, 2018, at the age of 81.

Peter is survived by his wife, Cleta; sons Geoffrey and Jonathan (England); five grandchildren (England); niece Laura (Tillotson) Rubin (New Castle, N.H.); nephew Bradley Tillotson (Albuquerque, N.M.); sister-in-law Jan Tillotson (Ludington, Mich.); and several cousins. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Ivan and Marguerite Tillotson; and brother Van Tillotson.

Peter was born on March 23, 1936, in Shelby, Mich., to Ivan and Marguerite Tillotson.

During high school, Peter played football, basketball and tennis, leading the Ludington (Michigan) Orioles to the state finals for the first time in 1952 and to the semifinals a year later. He remains one of the top five scorers in the history of Ludington basketball.

After graduating from high school, Peter attended the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship and played basketball for the Wolverines. He was the captain, most valuable player and leading scorer on the 1957–58 Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team. He received the Chicago Tribune Big Ten Player of the Year Award in 1958. Peter earned a degree in business management. After college, he was drafted to play basketball for the Syracuse Nationals, played in the Italian League and played for the semi-pro Grand Rapids Sullivans. He worked in business and sales until his retirement in 2001. In 2005, Peter was inducted into the Mason County (Michigan) Sports Hall of Fame and honored for his athletic accomplishments.

Peter enjoyed splitting time between his homes in Hayden and Capistrano Beach, Calif., playing golf and tennis.

Cremation has occurred at Yates Funeral Homes and Crematory in Hayden, with subsequent burial at Lakeview Cemetery in Ludington, Michigan.