William E. Peterson Jr.

William (Bill, "Pete") E. Peterson, Jr., 91 years of age, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family, on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at his home in Schenectady, New York. He was born on August 12, 1925, in Schenectady, New York, to William and Mildred Peterson (Piotrowski). Growing up in Schenectady, Bill attended and graduated in 1943 from Mont Pleasant High School, where he was on the track team. He enlisted in the United States Army on August 9, 1943, entering into service on October 21, 1943. He was sent overseas in February, 1945. A rifleman and holder of the Combat Infantryman's Badge, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant with the armed forces in Germany, where he was responsible for a squad of 12 men in the campaign of Central Germany as a member of L Company, Third Battalion, 343rd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Division ("Blackhawks"). He was the recipient of the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the European African Middle East Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground combat in the European African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. He was honorably discharged on April 5, 1946. After the war, Bill attended Siena College in Loudonville, New York. He married the love of his life, Irene E. Marczewski, on June 12, 1949, with whom he had four children. In 1950, Bill earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Siena, after which he was employed by Blue Cross-Blue Shield of northeastern New York. In 1968, Bill earned a Master of Public Administration in the field of administrative management from the Graduate School of Public Affairs, State University of New York. Always committed to quality healthcare regardless of income level, he was instrumental in the founding of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Health Center in Albany, NY. He went on to become a Vice President at Blue Cross-Blue Shield. A man with many interests and talents, Bill spent his free time tending the trees and gardens in his yard, and building additions on to the house he had built after his military service and with his own hands and labor, bit by bit and paying paycheck by paycheck for materials; he was proud never to have had a mortgage. He also enjoyed drawing, painting, and writing about his experiences in World War II. After retiring from Blue Cross-Blue Shield, he began Genesis Travel Agency, which afforded him the opportunity to travel the world with his wife Irene, visiting many places, including Poland, Germany, and Morocco. Bill had fond memories of their travels together, as well as of his youth growing up in the neighborhood of St. Adalbert's. Most recently, Bill greatly enjoyed Saturday breakfasts at Blue Ribbon Diner with his Mont Pleasant track team buddies and fellow World War II veterans. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, to whom he was happily married for 52 years. Not a day went by since her passing in 2001 that he did not think of her and wish with all his heart that she could be there to share all of this precious life with him. Bill is survived by his children, Deborah (Peterson) Brody of Niskayuna, NY, Lisa M. Peterson, of Schenectady, NY, William E. Peterson III, of Schenectady, NY, and Amy (Peterson) Cashman, of Vernon, CT; by his brother, Dr. Charles E. Peterson of Niskayuna, NY; and his beloved grandchildren, to whom he devoted so much of his time and attention in his later years, Rhiannon M. Kelsh-Lasher, Liam M. Kelsh, Daianera, Jacob and Michael Cashman. Visitation hours and a brief memorial service will be held at the Daly Funeral Home, 242 McClellan Street, Schenectady, NY, Friday, October 28, 2016, where the family will greet friends and relatives from 5 to 7 p.m. Burial, with military honors, will be the following morning at 10 a.m. at St. Adalbert's Cemetery in Rotterdam, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Community Hospice, 310 South Manning Boulevard, Albany, NY 12208, or to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menands, NY 12204. Condolences may be left on William E. Peterson Jr.'s online guest book at www.DalyFuneralHome.com.