Peter Nicholas Mascia

Thousand Oaks, Calif. — A memorial service for Peter Nicholas Mascia, 58, Thousand Oaks, will be at 10:30 a.m. May 28 at the Griffin Family Funeral Chapel in Thousand Oaks.
Mr. Mascia died Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at his home.
He was born Dec. 24, 1950, in Port Chester, N.Y., the son of Anthony and Bianca Mascia.
Mr. Mascia earned a biology degree from St. Anselm College in 1972. He finished a doctorate in genetics at Iowa State University in 1978 and completed post-doctoral studies in plant molecular biology at the University of Minnesota. He began his career in plant genetics at Monsanto in St. Louis and later moved to Cargill Inc. in Aurora, Ill. He joined Ceres Inc. of Thousand Oaks in 1999. At Ceres, he was a scientist and vice president, and developed plant breeding and crops for the biofuels industry. He enjoyed hiking and biking.
He married Mary Olson in August 1976. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include a son, Mark, Portland, Ore.; a daughter, Carolyn Mascia, Thousand Oaks; his parents; five brothers, Anthony, Michael, John, Paul and Joseph; his mother-in-law, Harriett Olson, Lawrence, Kan.; and extended family.
The family suggests memorials to RideOn Therapeutic Horsemanship in Newbury Park, Buena Vista Hospice in Westlake Village, or a charity the donor’s choice.
Griffin Family Funeral Chapels in Thousand Oaks is in charge of arrangements.