Runnin’ With Rani: Remembering Peter the Great

Whether he was swimming with his Kona Aquatic teammates, going for a bike ride with the Coffee Talk Riders, or running toward the finish line in a Peaman Biathlon, Team Mango Race or local running event, Peter Bresciani always had a smile on his face.

His passion to live life to the fullest, witty humor, and the endless good-natured banter shared with many during any swim-bike-run, are what family and friends remember most about him.

The two-time Ironman World Championship finisher (2014, 2018), retired Deputy Public Defender (22 years) and Per Diem Judge in the Third Circuit Court, District Court and Family Court, suddenly passed on October 21st. He was 71 years old.

His wife of 36 years, Heidi Koop, said that even after his retirement, Bresciani never slowed and kept himself busy.

“He definitely liked his routine,” she chuckled. “He would wake around 4 a.m. to eat breakfast and hang out for an hour before doing whatever sport (swim-bike-run) he planned for the day. Then he would come home to relax and eat lunch before working on his organic farm – Mahina Mauna. And then he would make a wonderful dinner every night. After he retired he basically became the house-husband. He did all the shopping and he was an excellent cook – Indian food, Thai food, Mediterranean – he loved to cook.”

And since moving to the Big Island in 1992, Bresciani was an avid fan of the Ironman World Championships – an iconic race featuring a 2.4-mile swim in Kailua Bay, 112-mile bike ride to Hawi and back, followed by a 26.2-mile marathon that finished on Alii Drive.

“I actually went to 18 Ironmans before I left the Big Island to go to college,” said his daughter, Kai Alita Bresciani. “We went every year since I was a baby. It was kind of our thing. He would wake us up at 4 in the morning with loud music and dancing around us saying, ‘It’s Ironman, get up, get up!’ It was his favorite thing. It was his favorite obsession.

“I think for a long period of time it wasn’t something he ever thought of doing himself. He was just in awe of watching everyone doing something that looked impossible. Just in awe of what the human body could do. Then once he started doing triathlons, the possibility of maybe he could actually do it became the realization that he could, which led him to doing it (twice). There was really nothing bigger than Ironman. Once he did it, he wanted to do it again, and again.”

• About Peter

Bresciani was born on August 24, 1948 in New York City. He received his BA in Philosophy from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1970, his law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1975, and then went on to start a practice in San Francisco.

Shortly after the birth of their daughter Kai Alita, he moved his family to their farm in Captain Cook on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1992. Bresciani became a champion of justice with a successful career as Deputy Public Defender and supervisor of the PD’s office in West Hawaii, and after retiring in 2014, he worked as a Per Diem Judge until 2018.

For many years I watched Bresciani’s brilliance in the courtroom, amazed by his meticulous persistence and commitment to seek a better resolve on behalf of a defendant’s legal position. I always thought if I ever got into a legal bind, I’d call Pete.

• Peter the athlete

Prior to his start in triathlons, Bresciani was a long-time runner and often seen putting in miles on Alii Drive at sunset after an all-day session in court. He admired anyone competing at the 140.6-mile Ironman-distance and felt it was for the “superhuman”- not for someone like him, who really didn’t know how to swim or ride a triathlon bike.

All that changed when he was asked to be the runner on a Lavaman Waikoloa Olympic Distance Triathlon relay team in 2008. Completing the event gave him the confidence needed that he too, could do a triathlon. He immediately joined the Kona Aquatics Swimming 101 for beginners with Steve Borowski, and hooked up with Oliver and Julia Kiel’s Cycle Station, a local bike store for all his triathlon needs. He was ready to go for it.

The following year, he completed his first Lavaman, then Honu, and in 2014, his first Ironman World Championships. He also was a regular at all Peaman Biathlon, Team Mango and Hawaii Cycling Club events, and signed up for every open-water swim race. While training for his second IMWC last year, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bresciani before the “Big Dance.”

“I now realize you don’t need to be superhuman,” he laughed. “I realize that there are four things you need if you really want to do Ironman. First, you need body parts that work. Secondly, you need the time to train because it’s a huge time commitment. Third, you need a partner who is willing to put up with you while you train. And lastly, you need to be crazy enough to want to do it. I think doing Ironman is a pretty nutty thing to do!”

Koop said, “He loved Ironman, and he was planning to do it next year. He actually qualified at Honu this year but he turned it down because he promised me that he wouldn’t do another one this year. I think it was hard for him to let the slot go. He didn’t think he might have the same chance next year to get in because of other athletes moving into his age-group. But Peter always had a lot of will power. He knew he wasn’t the brilliant athlete so he worked hard at it, and in doing so, would always make fun of himself.”

• A life lived and remembered

“He was a very kind and generous person,” Koop said. “He loved Kai Alita and gave us both a lot of love. He truly was dedicated to his family and always wanted to make everything the best. And we had a great 36-years.”

Kai Alita added; “He was a wonderful dad. He was really a good person and did everything with such good intentions. He never did anything with a bad intention behind it. I think everybody would want to be more like him. And we feel really lucky hearing stories of him, what he did for others, what he gave to the community – we are just in awe of that and feel really lucky that he gave most of that to us.

Like many who shared their favorite memories of Bresciani over the past two weeks, I too, will remember him for the remarkable man and friend he was. He always came to races ready with some good jokes, trash talking and endless witty quips.

I always enjoyed the start of my banter by interrupting a conversation he was having with someone by saying, “Excuse me, but do you know this man is famous? This is Peter – a two-time Ironman World Champion, world-class runner, and world renown swim coach!”

It always seemed to grab their attention by their amazed expressions and immediate follow-up questions about his athletic career, “Wow, you won the Kona Ironman twice?” But most importantly, it gave me a good chuckle watching Bresciani’s reaction. His face beet-red with amusement, or sheer embarrassment, all while attempting to deny any claim to such fame. While shaking his head, he would volley his comeback line.

“I truly feel sorry for your husband. I can only imagine the torture the poor fella must go through on a daily basis!”

Yes, I loved how Peter graciously put up with my teasing and almost every conversation started the same way. He filled our hearts with joy and endless laughter, lifted our spirits with inspiration and encouragement, and never failed to save a bad joke for a rainy day. He certainly touched the lives of many and will truly be missed.

Peter is survived by his wife Heidi Koop, daughter Kai Alita, sisters Elizabeth and Mary Ellen, brothers-in-law Klaus and Jim, sister-in-law Iris, many cousins and the countless friends he made along the way. A Celebration of Life for Peter will be held on Sunday, November 3rd at Papa Kona (formerly Daylight Mind) at 10 a.m.

• Remembering Peter

Michael Traub – Natropathic Doctor, Lokahi Health Center

We were friendly rivals and training buddies and he talked me into bike rides to Hawi and up Mauna Loa. I got him back by talking him in to doing a relay in the Alii Challenge, a six-mile swim from Keauhou Bay to Kailua Bay this year where, as he said, “We were first in our division, last in our division, last overall. We crushed our age group and the next closest competitors in our age group are at least one year behind us.”

Joe Florendo – Retired District Court Judge, West Hawaii

The first characteristic I noticed about Peter, and it is something that continues to echo in my brain, was his distinct New York accent. Despite living on the West Coast, He retained a rhythmic, nasal, “My Cousin Vinny” twang in his speech that revealed itself most emphatically when he argued a defendant’s legal or factual position in court. He was persistent to say the least. Nonetheless, I respected and admired his professionalism and zealous advocacy on behalf of his clients. He was devoted to his vocation and was admired by his peers. The legal community was lucky to have him as a collegue.

After I retired, I spent many crisp mornings with him in Lane 6 and 7 at the Kona Aquatic Center – enjoying his banter with the rest of us while we complained and endured another one of Coach Steve’s workouts. We in the swim and triathlon community will miss his humor, his optimism, and most of all, his companionship.

Peaman – Frozen Pea Productions event organizer

My favorite memory of Peter that truly epitomized his great sense of humor and his playful attitude in the sport was when we did the Sea To Stars bike race in 2017 that started at Waikoloa Beach Resort.

It was a neutral start to the bottom of Waikoloa Road, so Peter and I decided to get in the front of the group, with 60-cyclists behind us, and he said we are going to go so slow and enjoy this 2-mile segment. We sat up and waved and let everyone cheer for us as he kept saying, ‘We are leading Sea To Stars Peaman!’

We could hear everyone behind us back-pedaling and hitting their brakes. And so I told Peter, I think we better speed up. He said he didn’t care, but we are leading Sea To Stars! And then when the race started we got smoked but we had fun! He just loved being there, any race, it didn’t matter where he placed, he had a good time and always had a smile on his face.”

Carl “Gecko” Koomoa – Team Mango Races event organizer

One of the things I always enjoyed about Peter was his whole happy attitude about racing and training even when he got a good whooping out there. (laughs) I remember one Mini Monster 70.3 race when one of the aid stations hung a sign just for him that read; “No water for Peter.” It was just a good reflection of his really good attitude. He did all the Team Mango races this year and finished the series with really good point standings. Even at his last race on that Sunday, he was putting the hurt on everyone!

Steve Borowski – Kona Aquatics Masters Swim Coach

Peter was most importantly, very caring about others. A New Yorker attorney converted into a Kona farmer and triathlete! Always a smile on his face. His positive outlook was contagious.

Michael Drutar – Coffee Talk Riders

We all loved Peter’s banter and sense of humor. You only meet people like Peter a few times in your life. He was truly a “once in a blue moon” kind of guy. The thing is that you wouldn’t know it right away. He wasn’t a boisterous or a self-promoter. Whenever you talked to him, he had something to talk to you about – I felt like he had been thinking about our next conversation as soon as the last one ended. He was more interested in you, and in truly interacting with you at that moment.

John Ferdico – Art lecturer at Hawaii Community College, Palamanui

Whenever I saw Pete at a race, or at Masters, he always tried to make me laugh – usually by complaining I was running too slow, or swimming badly, or maybe just wearing ridiculous shoes. And I laughed every time, and pointed out his ridiculous shorts. And we laughed together! I realize now he’s taught me the most essential, important thing we can share.”

Bree Brown – Kahakai Elementary School Teacher

Pete left an imprint on every single person he met. He had that about him – changing things for the better. Over the years he quietly donated to our class and wanted nothing in return other than to see all my students have opportunities to go on excursions, have access to school supplies, and provided food for a hungry belly. Pete made life better for everyone.