Ernest R. Pete' Peterson

ernest r. peterson
Commander Ernest Robert 'Pete' Peterson (Ret. USN), 99, of Cheshire, formerly of Hamden, husband of the late Eleanor Rhodes, passed away on April 14, 2016 at Elim Park. He was born in Iowa to the late Per Theodore and Anna Lofstedt Peterson. He leaves his loving son Charles (Chuck) and his wife Colleen of West Hartford, and granddaughter Kirsten Peterson, and his niece Jean Marie Peterson of Iowa. He is predeceased by his first wife, Betty Sohlstrom, his brothers Elmer Davis and Okay Peterson, and his sister Clara Peterson. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy Ernest faithfully served as Commander on several ships in the U.S. Navy for 24 years, retiring in 1959 as Associate Professor of Naval Science at Yale University. He then went on to earn a Master's Degree from Fairfield University and began a second career teaching mathematics at Hopkins School in New Haven for 23 years, retiring in 1982. Pete then went on to volunteer his time at the Yale-Peabody Museum. He was also a long time member of Spring Glen Church in Hamden, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, Retired Officers Association, the Peabody Museum Associates, the Sleeping Giant Park Association, and New Haven Bird Club. While living at Elim Park, he continued to volunteer in a variety of capacities. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service celebrating Pete's life on Friday, May 13, 2016 at Elim Park Baptist Home, Cheshire at 10:30 a.m. Private burial will take place at a later date in Lancaster, New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Spring Glen Church Memorial Fund, 1825 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT 06517, or to Hopkins School, 986 Forest Rd. New Haven, CT 06515, or to Elim Park Baptist Home, 140 Cook Hill Rd. Cheshire, CT 06410.

View current weather.

Memories Timeline

Guestbook

  1. Hi Chuck, Colleen and Kirsten, Our sympathy to all of you on the death of your father and grandfather. We are currently in Croatia and will not be home in time for the service at Elim Park, but we will be thinking of all of you.

    Ron and Bernie

  2. Hi Ron and Bernie,

    Thank you for sympathies and for getting in touch. We will miss seeing you but hope you are having a wonderful time in Croatia! Hugs. :o)

    Chuck, Colleen and Kirsten

  3. On behalf of the members of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1940, their wives,widows and family members, please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of Cdr. Ernest .Pete. Peterson. Only ’40 is 4.0!

    Sincerely,

    Wendi Winters

    Daughter of Cdr. Leigh .Early. Winters, and

    Class Representative

  4. Chuck, Colleen and Kirsten,

    We are so very sorry for your loss. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers during this sad time.

    Love,

    Ron, Veronica, Ryan and Kyle Kleinschmidt


Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle

Accessibility Tools
hide