Peter Sebastian Nellhaus

Peter was diagnosed with Kidney cancer in 2018 and was told he had two years to live. He surprised his doctors year after year by breaking the odds. No doubt because of his calm and pragmatic approach to the situation.

Peter was one of the first two people to receive the newly created B.F.A. in Cinema Studies from New York University. Production assistant on the documentary, “Street Scenes 1970”, directed by Martin Scorsese. Chapter on recent Thai Cinema for the French-English book, “Southeast Asian Cinema”, published by Asiexpo. Favorite movie theater – Airport Plaza in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He was a member of the Online Film Critics Society since 2011.

From 2005 to 2023 Peter reviewed movies and posted blogs on his site Coffee, Coffee and More Coffee.

His personal film tastes leaned towards Western Drama, Outlaw Westerns, Asian films, and horror flicks. Often films that were somewhat dark and intense. His favorite being “The Big Gundown” directed by Sergio Sollima. He asked that his friends watch “Irma Vep” by Olivier Assayas, “Tears of the Black Tiger” by Wisit Sasanatieng, and, of course, “The Big Gundown” by Sergio Sollima.

He enjoyed going to the Denver Film Festival and Film Festivals in Italy and Asian countries. He was an avid supporter of a number of film preservation libraries.

A member of the Soka Gakkai International-USA (SGI-USA) Buddhist community, he led his life by allowing others to follow their own beliefs in peace, and to recognize the rights of others to their individual freedom of thought. He was an ardent supporter of seeing the dignity of each person through dialogue, culture and education. He was a peaceful, gentle, intelligent individual who lived his life quietly and privately though a conversation on film, art or Buddhism might go on for hours. If he had a stack of film DVDs and Blu Rays or download links to movies he could spend his day watching, he was happy.

He was preceded in death by his parents Gerhard Nellhaus, Ph.D., and his mother Arlynn Nellhaus. Peter is survived by his younger siblings, sisters Stephanie Angelo and Nina Sabghir, brother Tobin Nellhaus, and nine nieces and nephews.