Richard F. PETERSON

PETERSON, Richard F.


Richard F. Peterson died peacefully at home in West Hartford on Friday, (November 8, 2013). He was born in Hartford on July 22, 1928, the son of Gustav and Mary Peterson. He was raised in West Hartford, graduating from Hall High School, class of 1946. While attending Bentley College, Dick met the love of his life, Barbara Bradley, in Boston. They married in 1952 and enjoyed 56 years together, raising three children: Richard (Rick), Barbara (Barb) and Anne (Andi). Dick began his career as a certified public accountant in 1957 with Ernst & Ernst in Hartford. In 1962, the family moved to Bristol where Dick went to work as controller at the Bristol Hospital. He retired as Senior Vice President for Finance and Treasurer 30 years later, with a couple of stints as acting Administrator/President. Always a contributor, Dick served on the City Board of Finance and was an active member of the Kiwanis Club which afforded him fond memories of Christmas tree sales in subfreezing weather and peanut hawking at the annual Mum Festival parade. Dick and Barbara spent their early retirement years at their gracious home in Burlington where they enjoyed the company of friends and their children's families with summers charcoal-grilling chicken poolside and winters on the skating pond. The son of a nurseryman and Swedish immigrant, Dick was an avid lifelong gardener and generous with the fruits of his labor, including the story of his dad's trip through Ellis Island which fueled many a grandchild's middle school project. Backyard birding was another passion and Dick was a significant contributor to the bird feeder/squirrel-proofing industry. In 2002, Dick and Barbara moved to the comfort and convenience of their West Hartford home. Barbara predeceased him in 2008. Dick is survived by his three children, Rick and wife Jan of Shelburne, Vermont and their two children Ali of Washington D.C. and Andrew of Shelburne; Barbara and her husband Scott Eblen of West Hartford and their two children, Kelly and Ryan both of San Francisco, CA; and Anne and her husband, David Sperling of Santa Fe, NM and their two children, Leslie of Denver, CO and Douglas of Boulder, CO; as well as dozens of nieces and nephews. Dick was much loved and will be missed by all.
There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on November 27, 2013 at 10 a.m. with brief visitation at 9:30 at the Church of St. Peter Claver, 47 Pleasant Street in West Hartford with burial following at Fairview Cemetery. Donations in Dick's memory would be appreciated to the American Cancer Society or a charity of the donor's choice. Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home has care of arrangements. For online condolences and directions please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com