Taz Russell Petersen

Taz Russell Petersen, 66, of Groton, CT, passed away peacefully February 22, 2026 at the Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London.

He was born on January 8, 1960, in New Haven to Lydia Richardson. Taz grew up in East Lyme and graduated from East Lyme High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team. He later attended Southern Connecticut State University and met the love of his life and his best friend, Colleen Shanley.

Taz and Colleen moved to Groton, CT in 1998 where they spent many happy years sharing their love for the beach and building a community of wonderful friends and neighbors. Taz had an innate ability to enjoy the little things and never lost sight of what mattered most. In recent years, he enjoyed having daily “Breakfast Club” with his mother Lydia, his sister Lisa, and his loyal companion, his Teacup Yorkie Bella. Everyone who knew Taz knew how much he loved the Red Sox, golf, football Sundays, The Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, and reading about the mafia, organized crime, and World War II. Yet there was no greater joy in his life than being a husband, Dad, and Padge.

Taz was proud of his three sons Mike, TJ, and Jimmy, who all joined the military. He always raved about how his daughter Rory (“Doodle”) grew up to be the most incredible mother to his grandkids, Pepper and Kit (“The Littles”).

Whether you were his neighbor, his coworker, his friend, his family, or you knew him from his daily trips to the grocery store, the package store, or Dunkin’ Donuts, he likely greeted you with a big smile on his face and a “Hi Doll!” or a “Hey Pal!” To know him was to love him, and, for heaven’s sake, we loved him.

Taz was preceded in death by Leon Petersen, his adoptive father. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Colleen; his three sons: Michael, TJ (Meg), and James (Jamie); his daughter, Rory; his mother, Lydia; his sister, Lisa; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his two beautiful grandchildren, Pepper and Kit.

The family will receive friends and loved ones at Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St., Groton, Connecticut, on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in memory of Taz.

Rock and Roll!