Joseph Peterson

Joseph Peterson, age 89, loving father and husband and dedicated community volunteer, died peacefully at home in Newport Beach surrounded by his family, June 28, 2011. Joe loved watching sports, playing golf, and firing up the bar-b-cue. After serving in the Air Force in WWII, he went on to graduate in business from Washington University, St. Louis. He had a long career in advertising with the J. Walter Thompson Agency, and as Marketing Manager for Coldwell Banker. He and wife Marcy raised four children in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood, and then relocated to Newport Beach, a town they grew to love. In retirement, Joe spent many years as a Big Brother of Orange County, volunteered as teacher’s aide at Pomona Elementary, Costa Mesa, and dedicated over 15 years at Friendship Shelter, Laguna Beach. Son of Joseph and Katharine Peterson, Joe was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1921 and raised in St. Louis. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marcy Peterson, sister Barbara Harford of St. Louis, and children Katie Peterson of Seattle, Chris Peterson of Petaluma, John Peterson of Palo Alto, and Anne Bentley of Seattle, and by grandchildren Evan, Collin, and Sofia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent In Memory of Joseph Peterson to Friendship Shelter, P.O. Box 4252, Laguna Beach, CA 92652.