Peter Lalli

OBITUARY

Peter Roland Lalli, dedicated and loving husband, father, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2024, at the age of 75. Peter was born on March 6, 1949, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Roland (Rollie) and Elizabeth (Bettye) Lalli. He grew up in Springfield with his brother, Anthony, and sisters, Christine, Mary, and Daryl-Lynn. Peter attended Holy Name Grade School and Cathedral High School (Class of 1965). Peter attended St. Michael’s College in Burlington, Vermont (Class of 1971), where he played baseball and basketball and met the love of his life, Jane (Bennett). After graduation, Peter moved to San Diego to work in the family restaurant, Mario’s. In 1974, he and Jane married in San Diego, and later they had two daughters, Vanessa and Alexis.Peter led a successful 50-year career in food sales, working for Pieri Distributing, Moceri Foods, Kraft, Joseph Webb and US Foods and won many President’s Cup sales awards along the way.Peter loved music, and he loved to sing. He was a devoted grandfather to his grandchildren, Jack, Nicholas, Eleanor and Pete, who affectionately called him “Backa.” He also had a passion for sports and enjoyed watching his grandchildren play ball. He is survived by his loving wife, Jane; children, Vanessa (Brad) Liguzinski and Alexis (Steve) Jodlowski, both of San Diego; grandchildren, Jack, Nick, Eleanor and Pete; and three sisters, Christine (Joe) Kubala, Mary (Michael) De Luca, and Daryl-Lynn (Tom) Burke, as well as beloved nieces, nephews, and many dear friends. Peter was predeceased by his parents, Rollie and Bettye, and his brother Anthony.Read more about Peter in his online obituary at eastcountymortuary.com. A rosary and viewing will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at East County Mortuary, in El Cajon. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo, in Point Loma. Graveside services will immediately follow at El Camino Cemetery and a reception will follow at the Jodlowski home in Point Loma.

A San Diego police officer who was critically injured in a fiery wreck that killed another officer has been released from a hospital, a week after the crash with a speeding driver who had been briefly pursued.

Officer Zach Martinez was released Tuesday. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said he has a long road to recovery but that Martinez and everyone in the department is grateful.

“Today is nothing short of a miracle,” Wahl said.

Killed in the crash was Officer Austin Machitar, who was driving the police vehicle that the two officers were in.

Also killed was the 16-year-old driver of the speeding car who had been briefly chased, which was the reason Machitar and Martinez were responding to the area, officials have said.

Martinez, a 27-year-old EMT and member of the Navy Reserves who has been with the police department for 1½ years, had been described as fighting for his life after the crash on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

“The first officer that responded to him was also an EMT, and in his words, he thought he was dead,” Wahl said. “He said he tested for his pulse and was surprised when he found one.”

The crash occurred on Aug. 26 at around 11:30 p.m. after a different officer saw the teen driver speeding and tried to conduct a traffic stop, police have said.

The driver sped away and was chased before a supervisor called off the pursuit due to the dangerous speeds, Wahl said last week.

Machitar and Martinez were responding to that call when the driver crashed into them from the side, Wahl said.

Martinez suffered burns, a broken neck and multiple facial injuries, said Dr. Diane Wintz, trauma medical director at Sharp Memorial Hospital. There was no paralysis with the neck injury, she said.

The circumstances of the crash and exactly what occurred are under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Wahl said that based on preliminary information, the time between the attempted traffic stop, brief pursuit and point of impact “is going to be very short. We’re talking 20, 30 seconds.”

Wahl said he spoke with Martinez before a news conference Tuesday announcing that he would be released, and that Martinez asked that the nurses and doctors be recognized for care that was “nothing short of amazing.”

“He’s very grateful, and he appreciates all of the prayers,” Wahl said.

Jurickson Profar and his 7-year-old son, Khairy, shared a special moment at Petco Park on Monday.

Khairy got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to Jurickson ahead of the Padres’ 3-0 win over the Detroit Tigers in San Diego. And the younger Profar dazzled with a perfect strike to dad.

How’s that for a father-son experience?

The moment came during what’s been a special season for the Padres outfielder. Profar, 31, is enjoying the best year of his career in 2024, hitting .280/.382/.459 with 21 homers and 81 RBIs.

Profar played in his first All-Star Game in July, less than a year after being released by the Colorado Rockies. And before receiving the All-Star nod, Profar spoke about how much the honor would mean to Khairy.

“I don’t care about the individual stuff. I really don’t. But for my son? It would just mean everything,” Profar said, via MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell.

“One of my dreams since he was born was to be at an All-Star Game,” Profar added. “He loves baseball so much. He’s always watching the Home Run Derby while I’m like, ‘Nah, I don’t want to watch baseball during the All-Star break.’ But he wants to watch it. He’s always talking about baseball. So, that’s why it would mean a lot.”