Donor Spotlight: Susan and Peter Mallory

Susan and Peter Mallory keep a busy schedule, splitting their time between San Diego and South New Jersey, yet they remain deeply engaged in their communities and passions. Susan, a native San Diegan and former financial services executive and commercial banker, now serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Rancho Coastal Humane Society, Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, and the San Diego Symphony Foundation, as well as two corporate boards. Peter, a lifelong competitive athlete, historian, educator, and former CPA, shares his passions for rowing and history with Susan’s love for animals and their mutual adoration for music.

“It is a true honor to give back to an organization that has been a part of my being throughout my life,” Susan said, reflecting on her lifelong connection to the Symphony. Growing up, she attended performances at what is now Jacobs Music Center, remembering its days as the Fox Theater. “It is such a beautiful site, and the care in which the restoration and adaptation is being done is just astonishing.”

The Mallory’s generous contribution to the Jacobs Music Center Campaign stems from their commitment to preserving the historic space while ensuring a state-of-the-art home for the Symphony’s future. “To see the preservation of one of San Diego’s jewels for the last hundred years is very exciting to me,” Peter added. “It is really fun to see what they are doing to re-engineer that space while preserving the elegance of the original Fox Theater, one of the great cinema palaces of the early 20th century.”

With the re-opening of Jacobs Music Center, the San Diego Symphony can share the gift of music even more widely. Susan and Peter expressed deep gratitude to the Jacobs family for their leadership in realizing this dream. “The venue is another example of Joan and Irwin Jacobs’ enormous generosity, which has transformed San Diego in so many ways,” Peter noted. “This project coming to fruition months after Joan’s passing is a reminder that their contribution is forever.” Susan added, “It is such an incredible resource to be able to provide to everyone in the city and beyond.”

As the 2024-25 Jacobs Masterworks Season and the Grand Opening of Jacobs Music Center approach, Susan and Peter eagerly anticipate their first experience in the newly renovated hall. “I’m most looking forward to the higher experience of being back in the hall,” said Susan, “listening to the music, enjoying the acoustics, and the beautiful venue. We are a big city with a robust cultural community, and the Symphony is a shining light for us.”

The generosity of donors like Susan and Peter Mallory ensures the Symphony continues to thrive, enriching the cultural landscape of San Diego. Join them in supporting the San Diego Symphony and be a part of this beautiful legacy. Together, we can keep the music alive for generations to come.