Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carey Paul Peck |
| Birth | June 17, 1949 (Los Angeles, California, USA) |
| Age | 76 (as of 2025) |
| Parents | Gregory Peck (father), Greta Kukkonen (mother) |
| Siblings | Jonathan (1944–1975), Stephen (b. 1946), Anthony (b. 1956), Cecilia (b. 1958) |
| Spouse/Partners | Kathryn S. “Cathy” Goldrich (married 1978); later married artist Lita Albuquerque |
| Children | Marisa Peck; Christopher Jonathan Peck (born August 16, 1990) |
| Education | Reported attendance at Georgetown University; early Peace Corps volunteer work (reported) |
| Occupations | Education administrator; Principal Administrative Analyst and grant administrator, LAUSD; political candidate |
| Notable For | 1978 and 1980 Congressional runs in California’s 27th District; decades of education-program leadership (after‑school, STEM/CyberPatriot) |
| Residence | Los Angeles area |
| Years Active | 1970s–present |
From Hollywood Heritage to Civic Service
Carey Paul Peck was born into the glare of high-wattage celebrity—Gregory Peck’s third son with his first wife, Greta Kukkonen—yet he stepped out of those klieg lights and into the more utilitarian fluorescents of public service. Growing up in Los Angeles, he absorbed both a sense of public presence and a father’s insistence on substance. Reports of early Peace Corps volunteer work and time at Georgetown University hint at a young man already tugged toward policy, community, and education.
Rather than chasing the camera, Peck gravitated to the corridors where budgets are argued, grants are written, and young lives are shaped after the last bell rings. If his father’s roles framed moral courage on screen, Carey pursued its neighborhood version—through classrooms, after‑school labs, and school-district offices.
The Campaigns of 1978 and 1980: A Contender in CA‑27
By the late 1970s, Carey Peck entered the gritty arena of electoral politics. In 1978 and again in 1980, he ran as the Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Robert “Bob” Dornan in California’s 27th Congressional District. It was a tough district and an era of sharp ideological contrasts. Peck pitched a pragmatic appeal—grounded in education, community needs, and the bread-and-butter issues that shape daily life—against a formidable, media-savvy incumbent.
The contests were hard-fought, closely watched, and close enough to make a political name out of someone who could easily have coasted on a famous surname. Win or lose, those races forged a public identity that would outlast the yard signs: a candidate who took the issues seriously and returned to build institutions when the voting was done.
A Life in Education: LAUSD, Grants, After‑School, and STEM
After the campaigns, Peck focused his career where the need is perpetual and the victories are often quiet: large public-school systems. For decades he has served the Los Angeles Unified School District in roles such as Principal Administrative Analyst and grant administrator, the kind of positions that require both fluency in policy and a knack for turning ideas into line items, partnerships, and measurable programs.
His work has emphasized after‑school opportunities—those crucial hours when young people either fall through the cracks or find a ladder. Peck helped build leadership experiences, enrichment options, and STEM pathways that invite students into hands-on learning. Among the most visible of these has been support for CyberPatriot and broader cyber/STEM efforts: teams, coaches, and competitions that introduce students to cybersecurity, systems thinking, and the teamwork rhythms of real technical work.
Instead of relying on one-time funding, Peck has integrated federal, state, and charitable resources into long-term programs. Higher club engagement, more STEM league competitions, improved middle school-to-high school continuity, and confident alumni entering college programs are the results. Creating a sustainable after-school ecology at LAUSD is a complex process that requires art, logistics, and endurance. His policy literacy, community instincts, and tenacity have been immensely useful.
A simple way to think about the work is to picture the after‑school hours as a bridge. Without it, students face a wide, risky gap between the school day and home. With it, the crossing is safer, more purposeful, and occasionally thrilling—like a physics experiment that finally clicks or a CyberPatriot scenario that yields to a team’s strategy at 6:45 p.m. on a Wednesday.
Family Ties: Marriages, Children, and the Wider Peck Clan
Carey’s personal life has unfolded in chapters that mirror his public ethos: steady, grounded, and family‑first. He married Kathryn S. “Cathy” Goldrich in 1978; they welcomed a daughter, Marisa. Later, Carey married artist Lita Albuquerque, whose land art and environmental installations are recognized internationally. Their son, Christopher Jonathan Peck, was born on August 16, 1990, and has pursued education as a profession, echoing his father’s commitment to schools and students. The next generation now includes grandchildren.
The broader Peck family is both storied and diverse in its pursuits. Carey’s late brother Jonathan (1944–1975) remains part of the family’s remembered history. Stephen (b. 1946) served in the military and later built a career in veteran services. Anthony (b. 1956) worked as an actor and producer, while Cecilia (b. 1958) is an actress and documentarian known for intelligent, socially aware film work. Across these branches, public service and creative expression twist together like strands of the same rope.
Immediate Family Snapshot
| Name | Relation | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory Peck | Father | 1916–2003 | Acclaimed actor; moral center of Hollywood’s Golden Age |
| Greta Kukkonen | Mother | 1911–2008 | First wife of Gregory; mother of Jonathan, Stephen, Carey |
| Jonathan Peck | Brother | 1944–1975 | Eldest brother |
| Stephen Peck | Brother | b. 1946 | Veteran; leader in veteran services |
| Anthony Peck | Half‑brother | b. 1956 | Actor/producer |
| Cecilia Peck | Half‑sister | b. 1958 | Actress/documentarian |
| Kathryn S. “Cathy” Goldrich | Spouse (former) | m. 1978 | Mother of Marisa |
| Lita Albuquerque | Spouse | — | Artist; mother of Christopher |
| Marisa Peck | Daughter | — | Child with Kathryn |
| Christopher Jonathan Peck | Son | b. 1990 | Child with Lita; education professional |
Public Presence: Media, Appearances, and a Modest Footprint
Peck has never chased celebrity. His media lane is narrower than his last name might suggest—occasional appearances at arts and philanthropic events with Lita, periodic inclusion in family retrospectives, and professional mentions tied to education programs. He surfaces where the work is, not the spotlight.
This modest footprint is by design. The currency he values comes in program continuities, student outcomes, and the durable partnerships that keep clubs open past 4 p.m. If Hollywood deals in weekend box office numbers, he deals in semester-by-semester persistence.
What He’s Not: Net‑Worth Hype and Tabloid Static
A note on the inevitable modern question: there’s no authoritative, public net‑worth figure for Carey Peck, and “celebrity net worth” guesswork belongs in the recycling bin. His career has been rooted in public education and policy, not private equity. Public-employee salary records in recent years have reflected the typical range for a principal administrative analyst—reassuringly ordinary, refreshingly transparent, and miles away from tabloid fantasy.
FAQ
Who is Carey Paul Peck?
He is an education administrator and former political candidate, best known for two Congressional runs in 1978 and 1980 and long service with LAUSD.
When and where was he born?
He was born on June 17, 1949, in Los Angeles, California.
How is he related to Gregory Peck?
He is Gregory Peck’s third son with Gregory’s first wife, Greta Kukkonen.
Did he run for Congress?
Yes, he ran as the Democratic challenger in California’s 27th District in 1978 and 1980.
What does he do professionally?
He has spent decades in education administration, securing grants and building after‑school and STEM programs, including support for CyberPatriot teams.
Where did he study?
Reports indicate he attended Georgetown University, and early accounts note Peace Corps volunteer work.
Who are his spouse and children?
He married Kathryn S. “Cathy” Goldrich in 1978 (they have a daughter, Marisa) and later married artist Lita Albuquerque (they have a son, Christopher).
Is there a reliable net‑worth estimate?
No; his career is in public education, and no credible audited net‑worth figure is publicly available.
Is he active on social media?
He keeps a modest public profile; professional and event mentions appear more often than personal social accounts.
What is he best known for outside of politics?
For building and supporting after‑school and STEM ecosystems within LAUSD, including cybersecurity club pathways through CyberPatriot.
