Jonathan L. Peterson

Jonathan L. Peterson, 62, passed away in the hospice care of his cousin, Linda Hasser, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, after courageously battling oral cancer for nearly 30 years.

Mr. Peterson's remarkable life, filled with dedication to the arts and financial acumen, will forever leave an indelible mark on the institutions and communities he served. His unparalleled contributions to the cultural tapestry spanned decades, showcasing his passion for the arts, philanthropy, and leadership. From spearheading groundbreaking fundraising campaigns to nurturing the growth and development of his staff, Mr. Peterson's legacy is one of vision, commitment, and profound impact.

Born on January 30, 1964, in Lafayette, Indiana, he was the son of J. Edward and Judith Lee (Richards) Peterson. He attended St. Boniface Elementary School and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1982, before attending Butler University. While at Butler he received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 1986 and an MBA in Finance in 1988.

From an early age Mr. Peterson knew he wanted to be involved in the arts, but in an administrative role. The first half of his career was devoted to music with fundraising positions of increasing responsibility at the Indianapolis Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony in Miami, and San Francisco Opera.

The second phase of his career was focused on the visual arts as he took the helm of fundraising at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2010, as it was embarking on a $610 million campaign. SFMOMA was nearly tripling the size of the museum with an expansion designed by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta. The campaign eventually topped out at $640 million. It was during this time that Mr. Peterson renewed his passion for contemporary visual art and began actively building a private collection.

On the heels of his success in San Francisco, Mr. Peterson was recruited in 2015 to lead a similar effort at the venerable Philadelphia Museum of Art, with its iconic "Rocky Steps". A major expansion of the PMA was planned by the visionary architect Frank Gehry, the second time in Mr. Peterson's career that he was fortunate enough to have worked with Mr. Gehry. Originally envisioned as a $525 million campaign, it would finish at $608 million, making it the largest cultural fundraising campaign in Pennsylvania history. During this time, he was also active as a speaker and a consultant on the importance of employing data analytics and financial modeling in fundraising.

An inveterate traveler until his death, Mr. Peterson had been to all lower-48 states and over 30 countries in his lifetime. He was also an avid tennis fan throughout his life, serving as president of Chicago's Gay Tennis Association from 1996 to 2000, and a board member of Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association, which serves the LGBT community. Off the court, Mr. Peterson was passionate about cooking and fine wine and loved entertaining friends and colleagues.

He is survived by his father, Ed, and brother, Jim Peterson, both of Lafayette, and many beloved cousins.

Visitation will from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in West Lafayette, followed directly by a Funeral Mass and burial in St. Mary Cemetery.

Please check back for memorial donations.

You may leave condolences and memories of Jonathan on his Tribute Wall.