Jon A. Peterson died on July 1, at Essex Meadows in Essex, Connecticut. Born in Columbus, Ohio, on September 21, 1935, he was the son of Alvah Peterson and Helen Hoff Peterson. A graduate of Upper Arlington High School, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with high honors from Swarthmore College, a Master of Arts degree in American History from Ohio State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Harvard University, writing his dissertation under the direction of Professor Oscar Handlin.

He began his teaching career at Queens College of the City University of New York in 1966, retiring as professor emeritus in 2005. At Queens, he served as director of the master's degree program and as chair of the Queens College History Department from 1990 to 1994. Deeply interested in American urban history, he chaired the Columbia University Seminar on the City from 1973 to 1976.

Decades of intense scholarship on the origins of the American city planning movement culminated with The Birth of City Planning in the United States: 1840 - 1917, which, among other accolades, was awarded the Spiro Kostof Book Award, 2005, from the Society of Architectural Historians. Throughout his career, he was active in professional organizations related to American, urban, landscape, and architectural history.

Jon had wide interests apart from his scholarship. When he retired, he returned to a lifelong interest in watercolor painting. He was an enthusiastic birder, an excellent photographer, an accomplished gardener, and avid hiker and traveler, focused especially on horticulture tours around the world. He had a special passion for Block Island, where in the 1990s he helped to create Whale Rock House, a beloved family property.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Jane (Eaker), daughter Sarah S. Peterson, son Andrew J. Peterson (Kathy Clark), and his brother David Peterson. Prior to moving to Essex, Conn., in 2018, he and Mary Jane lived in Great Neck on Long Island for 48 years.

A memorial service is planned for Friday, August 4, at 3 p.m. in Hamilton Hall, Essex Meadows, Essex, Conn. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations either to the Essex Meadows Scholarship Foundation or to the Block Island Nature Conservancy.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Block Island Times on Jul. 14, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Jon Peterson

9 Entries

Ralph Knag

August 4, 2023

I had Dr Peterson for Urban History at Queens college and he later was our advisor to the History Honor Society. He was one of my favorite teachers at Queens. A really nice man

Chris Knauer

July 31, 2023

We have many years of memories shared with Jon and Janie starting in 1966 when Jon began his career at Queens College and moved to Flushing, NY then to Great Neck. Our children became friends and attended the same schools. Jon was very learned but always modest and interested in what other people had to say. We knew him best as a premier naturalist like his father, Alvah Peterson. Jon was very knowledgeable about birds, insects and botany. Wherever he traveled he quietly observed the natural world around him and was a great source of information to us who were still learning. Jon was never bored or dismissive. One favorite memory is of the birding trip we took with Janie and Jon to Hawk Mountain.
We will miss his gentle humor and loyal friendship.
All our love to Janie, Sarah and Andy. Jon was truly special.

Chris and Fred Knauer

Alejandra and Tony Stepke

July 30, 2023

Alejandra and Tony Stepke

July 30, 2023

Alejandra and Tony Stepke

July 30, 2023

Alejandra and Tony Stepke

July 30, 2023

Alejandra and Tony Stepke

July 30, 2023

Alejandra and Tony Stepke

July 30, 2023

I had the privilege to meet Jon and Janie when a good friend of mine asked me to help them with their computer related needs.
I enjoyed many hours with Jon and Janie, where I could feel their loving harmony at home that made everything easy. I also enjoyed their explanations and exhibits of their art work.
On one occasion, I mentioned to Jon and Janie the Digital Cameras and their advantages. With their permission I took a picture of them. Jon, already an accomplished photographer, soon became a fan of digital cameras, Andrew and Sarah contributed with a magnificent digital camera Christmas gift, and soon the number of pictures increased exponentially.

Before we returned to Chile in November 2014, Janie and Jon hosted a delightful farewell dinner that we remember very fondly.

I am sharing some of the many pictures that Jon and Janie used to make lovely one-of-a-kind year-end greeting cards with some of the pictures they took. We kept in touch exchanging points of view.

My wife Alejandra and I are the proud keepers of a beautiful watercolor that Jon painted and brought all the way from the USA in 2016, when he and Janie visited Chile to explore its gardens and natural beauties from North to South.

I always saw Jon in a positive mood. I think a good example is his comment while under radiation therapy:
"Speaking of wall art, the radiation room had a ceiling a portion of which consisted of a stained glass display that had been moved years ago from a Catholic hospital in New Haven that Yale once purchased. I stared up at the display during my procedure and half-jokingly called the room a "medical cathedral." I doubt whether the patients treated for prostate cancer saw the room that way ( I was not under stress from a bladder full of water)."

Jon, thank you for sharing some time with us. You are leading, lighting the way that we will certainly follow.

With love,
Ale and Tony

Alejandra and Tony Stepke

July 19, 2023

Our profoundly felt condolences to Janie, Sarah, Andrew, David and extended family and friends.
We will treasure Jon´s memories in our hearts.
We send you all our love at this very sad and difficult time

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