Echo Times

Issue date: 12/9/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Elisa Forsgren Using a PCV pipe, Peter Limm (right) demonstrates the finer points of a swing to one of his students near the College of Marin baseball field.

He drives a golf cart like a pro. He parks on the grass sandwiched between the baseball and soccer fields. His uniform is a baseball cap, ski vest and jeans. Climbing out of the cart, he walks along the field wielding a golf club, beaming an infectious warm smile to all who greet him.

"Hit the ball straight today, please," he says to a student as he passes by and they share a laugh.

Ten years ago he was retired. Ten years ago to most is a long time, but to him, it's just a while. "Time is relative, especially at my age," he said with a wry smile. He is 79. He has crammed a lot into those years, but is he still going strong? "I'm above the grass," he replied.

This man with the golf club and cap is Peter Limm, and he has been roaming the campus of College of Marin since 1965 as a coach, athletic director, friend, mentor and currently, as a golf instructor.

Limm, a Korean War veteran, went to San Francisco State University under the G.I. Bill in 1952 and majored in anthropology and physical education. He went on to University of California at Berkeley for post-graduate work in anthropology. Then a friend called him to take a job at San Rafael High School and, after two years, Terra Linda High School called him looking for a football coach.

"We were a championship team immediately," said Terra Linda grad Sharon Lewis. "That was a real volatile time being in high school. He defused many a problem. He was born to teach, it was just a perfect fit for him."

David Fickbohm, another former Terra Linda student said of Limm, "He was always supportive of the kids who weren't the most popular." Fickbohm, now an Echo Times reporter, recalled a time when Limm was dean of boys. "We were taking an English test and my buddy had the answers written on his hands. The teacher caught him and she called Pete in and Pete took the guy out and talked to him. He probably made [him] do push ups because he came back looking real tired."

Continued...

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