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Howard Lee "Hal" Peterson

Howard Peterson Obituary

Howard Lee "Hal" Peterson Former host of KSL Hal Peterson, former host of KSL's "Weekend" and sportscaster of BYU games, died on August 17th, 2007 in Connelly Springs, NC. He was 81.He is survived by his sister, two sons and two granddaughters. Fans of Hal's are encouraged to go to www.halpeterson.legacy.com and sign his Memory Book.

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

Published by The Salt Lake Tribune on Aug. 26, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Howard Peterson

Sponsored by Glen Peterson.

68 Entries

Glen Peterson

January 8, 2009

Life, love, and wisdom radiated from him like a lighthouse beacon. His life was filled with change yet he made his way around each corner, through every tunnel, in stride, adjusting constantly. His love moved me the first time we met. What impressed me most was how deeply he recognized his duty as a father and a man. His compassion was felt by everyone who came in contact with him. He was so aware of the feelings of others that he knew whether they were going in the right direction. Yet the wisest part was that he sat back and let the cards fall where they may which was most of the time what he expected. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
At 50 years old he acted liked he was in his 30´s when it came to being active. We´d go hiking up Mt. Tamalpias or ice skating but never once did Hal say that he was too tired. His energy is too much.
Hal started out in radio. He worked in New England, Salt Lake, and Nevada. Because of some experience while in the service he didn´t ever want to fly in a plane again. So, whenever he´d have to travel in his job, he´d drive, no matter how long the ride.
When Hal came to the San Francisco Bay Area, he still worked on the radio and opened a coin shop. When the coin shop failed he owned a camper center. Unfortunately he had to sell that enterprise. He enjoyed photography as a hobby, developing his own prints as well as fantastic black and white pictures. Hal also found time to play golf and one of his favorite past time was going to the horse races. He knew all of the horses that race at Bay Meadows in San Mateo. Playing cards was just one more of the family activities like `Spades´ tournaments once a month. Hal Peterson was a vital human being with a very full life.
Hal was (and still is) a very beautiful person and a wonderful man whom I feel very privileged to have known.

Written fondly by Clare Convery, friend from the SF Bay Area

David Healy

April 14, 2017

Some folks have a major impact on the lives they come in contact with. Hal Peterson certainly had impact on my life. The story began in 1968, San Francisco, California. As a young OCR (Operational Control Room) Director at KEMO-TV, I was teamed up with a veteran TV announcer, Hal Peterson. He taught me more about the TV business than 4 years of college would (and eventually did). We worked through all sorts of debacles not to mention the KEMO TV closing down eventuality of 1971.

During those years I lived in San Mateo, CA. the same town Hal eventually opened various businesses, most part-time but a few turned into full time endeavors after KEMO-TV closed down. The Coin-shop and the Travel Trailer biz. I maintained contact regularly with Hal up to 1974.

Then I dropped off the face of the map. I re-established contact with Hal in early 1976, went into a recovery program Good Friday, 1976 and here, 41 years later, still sober, one day at a time. On that dark and fateful day Hal helped me make the decision that life was indeed worth living and I should do something about turning my life around... I did!

Hal and I went on to work independent productions the next few years. The Today-Tomorrow series on KTSF San Francisco, voiceovers and commercial spots, some Silicon Valley industrial, high-tech programming scripts. Hal was also an excellent writer. An entire duke-mixtures of voice work and some on-camera stints... the consummate professional in every way.

I visited Hal and Susie in Jackson-hole, Wy. I spent a few -25 degree nights (days weren´t quite that cold) hanging around his Shutterbug camera shop and sticking my nose in the FM´er above his store while he did his weekly Jazz show.... I have some memorable family photos of that Wyoming trip, I believe the picture in the album (Hal and Susie right on this memoraial website) may have been taken by me, not sure, but I believe so.

Time and distance being what they are widen the distance between Hal and I, however, never went many months not thinking about him... He disappeared from Wyoming soon thereafter. Finding someone back in those days was much more difficult than today...

It´s a shame Hal didn´t have the chance to walk through the Western Pacific Railroad Museum and visit some of those California Zephyr railroad cars he loved. I´d loved to be his guide as I know the area and the museum well...

Travel on, my friend, may there always be and Ace in the deck for you. You may be gone, but certainly not forgotten!

David Healy
Portola, California (The Feather River Canyon area)

Stacy Peterson

August 20, 2016

9 years ago we had a memorial sharing stories and love we had for this man. Not a day goes by where i dont wish i could share something with you, hear the blaring loud western channel playing when i walk in from home, or as soon as dishes were done, no questions asked, we played phase 10, and it was the best time of my life. I love and miss you. Xoxox

Sara-Summer Oliphant

February 7, 2009

I was doing a search to try to find how to contact Hal and am so saddend to learn of his passing. I have considered him my guardian angel for almost 8 years now. I had moved to New Bedford a couple of weeks ahead of when my husband was scheduled to get out of the military and meet me there. It was his home and I knew nobody but my in-laws, and even them I hardly knew. After being there a few days, my mother-in-law helped me look into a photography class to help me meet some people and start my life in New Bedford.

After just one class, my now ex called me to say he didn't want to be married to me anymore and wasn't returning to New Bedford till I returned home. I went to Hal and asked if by chance I could have a refund of my tuition and apply it to a used camera at his shop. I ended up crying in his shop as I told him of my heart ache. He was so caring, compassionate and showed me the kind of love that I had begun to believe one stranger was not capable of showing another. He opened up to me about his own heartbreak and struggles over the years. I left with a camera, extra lens, bag and any other goodie he could give me. He also told me what a beautiful girl I was and asked if he could photograph me the next day. I knew he was only trying to lift my spirits, but it was just nice to be treted so kindly. I was raised to believe kindness was the most important trait a person could have, and Hal radiated kindness.

Here was this man who hardly knew me, and for a few hours all he cared about as restoring a self esteem that had been crushed and a spirit I believed was beyond repair. What an amazing man! We stayed in touch for a few years and I intended on paying his expenses out to Pittsburgh to photograph my wedding, but it fell through and we lost touch. He has never left my thoughts or my heart. It has always saddened me that we lost touch!

My mom has one of the pictures he look of me framed in her gameroom and everytime I look at it I remember this amazing human being. I hope some day I can repay that gift by paying it forward and help somebody back on their feet the way he helped me.

I know he would be so happy to know I have been married to an amazing man for over 6 years and we recently had our fourth beautiful baby. I am so blessed for having been touched by such a remarkable man.

Stacy Peterson

January 7, 2009

The holidays are over and things are starting to settle back to normal so to speak. I wrote a long note to you on Christmas but one wrong keystroke and it was gone.

We had a good Christmas. Our second without you physically here, but you were here living within each of us. Ashley was here with her boyfriend AJ. Josh, Mark's son got to experience his first "Peterson" Christmas as best we could without you here. Josh crashed at our place while he was here and we had a wonderful time getting to know him better.

Courtney was with her mom for 2 weeks in Cali this year for Christmas and didn't get to see Josh once again, but was able to spend two days with us before heading back to SC.

Mark stopped by on Christmas for about 15 minutes only to hand out gift cards to his son and nieces then he was off again.

Then, Ash, Glen, AJ, Josh and I went to a movie on Christmas night. I do believe if you were here with us, we would have never gone but instead chose to tell stories and or play games.

Glen did a wonderful job this year on gift shopping for everyone.

Murphy was great and opened up all his presents by himself. Sometimes he wanted to even help us open up our presents when he was ready to open up another one.

Glen got me the second best present ever this year for Christmas. The first of course without a doubt being Murphy, and this year, Glen showed a part of him I didn't know he had in him. He wrote me a book about Murphy. I wish I could share it with you. It didn't seem to impress either of the kids or Mark but to me, it was a homerun.

So, here it is, 2009, and we begin another year. Glen is traveling again to CT to play more poker. It is what he always wanted to do. I wonder though if you were still here with us if he would be playing right now. He loved you more than anyone.

Court is planning to move to NYC to be a nanny. Ash got an interview at Santa Barbara for Grad school. Everyone is growing up so fast. It is never far from my mind thinking that what we have with each other won't always be. Our family Christmas's with the kids will soon fade as the go out into the world and have their own families. As I get older, I am learning how fast life goes.

I turn 30 this year. I had a hard time with 29, but it seems I will be alone for my big bday. Glen will be spending 10 weeks in CT, Ash and AJ are flying back to Germany, and Courtney will most likely be living in NYC. You were always there to count on when in need.

Since Ash will be in Cali and Glen in CT for their birthdays this year, I decided that the only day that made any sense to celebrate their birthdays was of course, Dec 29th. What better day?

Know how much you are missed and thought of everyday.

Love always,
Stacy

Stacy Peterson

October 28, 2008

Been thinking of you a lot lately. From trips to Barnes and Noble and Kmart seeing Phase 10 Masters Edition, I feel like Jerry in Conspiracy Theory where he "needs" to buy The Catcher in the Rye, I have a extremely hard time not making the purchase. The cards that we could burn through in only a few months sit untouched. I found our score book last week. Just looking at your writing makes my heart smile.

So much has been going on. Josh, Mark's son came for a visit. I couldn't stop thinking during the visit and after how proud you would have been of him. I wish I could have seen the look on your face getting to met your grandson. I could imagine hours of story telling with him. I could hear your voice so clearly. It breaks my heart that it took 25 years for it to happen, I only wish it could have happened 2 years sooner.

I fear that I am starting to forget you. Some stories you told I have a hard time hearing in my head like you told them. I remember only parts now. I wish I could visit and hear them one more time again.

I am creating a memory book for the family. As I scan photos and read articles I feel like I am learning more and more about you. It is a very personal thing taking the time to scan photo by photo. It gives me time to study each picture and envision your life. To recall stories you have told me and feel close to you in my own way. I don't look at it as work, as there are a lot of photos to pass on. I look at it as our personal time together. I come across pictures and wish I could show you them and listen to you reminisce.

Murphy is well. Wish you could see him - my "Irish" dog. The way his brown eyes look at me makes me feel loved. I can't get enough of him.

I'll write again soon.
Love,
Stacy, Murphy and Petey

Stacy Peterson

July 12, 2008

There are very few days where one thing or another doesn't remind me of you.

From the simpliest things like using Dawn dish soap, after all nothing is better then Ajax :-)

Uploading songs to my ipod to include Glenn Miller, Sammy Davis Jr and Ms. Fitgerald. And not only adding them, but actually enjoying them.

I grab a VHS and think of boxes and boxes of all your tapes, and how you never really got "dvds". Who can forget the alien autopsy and Ulzana's Raid.

Mostly, I miss our card games. I miss the taping of your ring on the table to your own beat. I miss the laydowns that weren't correct, and when we were done with one game, not even thinking about IF we wanted to play another, we just shuffled up and dealt. It was our time together. And those times we were graced with the presence or Glen, or on the rarest of rarest, mark, it only gave us more things to laugh at once we got back to playing by ourselves. Every once in awhile I come across the Phase 10 cards. I would love to tell you I don't just break down and cry, but I can't.

Father's day was difficult. You were the closest thing to a father I ever got to know, and I sure did miss you. It was the first father's day, and I can only imagine how Glen was feeling. I did my best not to mention it to him, as I didn't want to upset him.

Murphy has grown into a great dog, I only wish you had been here to watch. You hated the name, "he's not irish!!" but he is my best friend. He loves the water, and I can only picture you making your way to the lake to snap some pictures of him for me while we would swim, in long pants and a long button down shirt.

I don't visit the site very often, but if I wrote every time I thought of you, I would be here daily, and some days more.

I am learning, ever so slowly, that sometimes in life, you have to enjoy what you have while you have it, as you never know when it will be taken away.

All my love,
Stacy, Murphy and Petey

Stacy Peterson

January 16, 2008

I can't believe that it is 2008 already. Over the months since your passing, so many things have reminded me of you. Just last night I found myself crying as I watched Boston Legal. Thinking to myself how much you loved that show. Not to mention the roll of the eyes I would have received for watching another season of American Idol. The holidays were not the same without you here. In 11 years I have never had you apart of our holidays. I sure do miss you!

Robin Stevens

September 18, 2007

I never had the pleasure of meeting Hal Peterson, but in reading his bio, I know he was a fabulous person. My Dad was in radio, as well. They are quite the colorful characters. I met Stacy while working at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville CT. Kind thoughts and prayers are with all of you in your time of mourning. Know that Hal is not gone, just moved on to a better place... one without pain... where he can watch over you and await your arrival.

Donna Bastarache

September 5, 2007

September 5, 2007
Hal was such a good friend to me in the short time we knew each other. We got to know each other due to my lack of knowledge using a camera. We first met after I purchased a `Nikon´ on EBay and couldn´t get it to work. I went to his shop to find out what was wrong with it - of course his first diagnosis was `it´s a Nikon´(and if you knew Hal, you knew how he felt about Nikon), however it was an easy fix. He told me that I `should´ take his class; I did and loved every minute of it. He taught me many things but most of all was how to laugh at myself! We had many, many good laughs from my picture taking abilities - mostly my `F´ stop use (or lack there of). That gave him a great deal of laughter and frustration! I´m glad I could keep him laughing - at my expense. I can not say enough of how much I have missed going to the shop and just listening to his stories... he was such a wealth of information, and his way of telling his stories kept me glued and wanting to hear more. I will always treasure my `hour´ long film drop offs. I have missed the way he would answer the phone "whaaaaaling city camera" since he left Acushnet!!!
Hal, I will never forget you. With every picture I take you will be in my thoughts. With every film development, I will chuckle because I know you would say `she still doesn´t get it´!!!
After the move to NC we kept in touch via snail mail, also I would email Mark blonde jokes for him. I will treasure his letters. I will treasure our friendship and I will forever long to visit Jackson Hole!! (Even though I have been there through his photos and stories.)
Thank you Hal!!!!! You have been missed since your move, and now you will be missed in life.
To Hal´s family, I send my deepest sympathies and also much gratitude for being there for him and with him.
Mark, I hope we will still keep in touch.
Donna Bastarache (Acushnet, MA)

Richard Sansoucy

September 5, 2007

September 3, 2007
Hal I will miss you.You have been a good friend for many years.I use to stop a chat with him on many days at the camera shop.I aslo enjoyed his photo classes.Memory of him also taking pictures of my daughters for their modeling classes.I also still have my canon A-1 and my pentax 1000.Which I have enjoyed in the classes he gave us.I was very schocked not to see him in the Acushnet Camera shop.I asked around ,no one knew where he went.I use to see Natalie once in a while visit him at the shop.Hal we will all miss you.And to the family my God be with him.He was a very good friend.
Richard Sansoucy (Swansea, MA)

Rita Blair

September 5, 2007

September 1, 2007
Pageants introdued me to Hal Peterson! That was the beginng of our years of working together. He always said yes to my requests to MC Pageants were very popular at that time and his voice was just the the icing on the cake! He was able to consol an entrant`s nerves, made each contestant feel she was the "winner" !
We were always planning another pageant for the local youg ladies including the Miss America Pageant on the local level. His camera was always available during rehearsals.
Years later when pageants faded away, he then joined me at the New Bedford Ice Rink where he would photogragh all the young skaters.
Again he was also availabe to MC the ice skating show making every skater feel like a champion!!
He was a friend that will be missed by all those who had the opportunity of knowing him; as well as working with him.
He will be remembered by all those contenstnants and budding ice skaters - more fondly none as the man with the camera!
rita blair (wareham, MA)

David De Smidt

August 26, 2007

My wife, Mandy and I send our deepest sympathy to Glenn and Mark and their families for the loss. We know what a close family they were and what a big emptiness Hal´s passing has left in their hearts. We hope some of the memories we share here will help him live on for all of us.

I met Hal in 1969 or 70 when he operated a Camper Dealership on El Camino in San Mateo. Shortly after we met, he opened the Coin Shop in San Mateo. I remember there being a very popular pinball machine in the shop.

After opening the Coin Shop, Hal started a Coin Club and each month selected investment grade bills and coins commensurate with the value of the monthly club dues for each member. I still have those envelopes and other coins he recommended. The club was active for years and Hal was very patient with all of us attempting to provide us with education and knowledge that would help us become savvy numismatists. I remember one particular occasion when his patience was sorely challenged. One member purchased a large bag of pennies for investment as recommended by Hal. When they went up in value he asked Hal to repurchase them at above market value because he had been very diligent in cleaning and polishing each and every penny. He suffered a hard lesson when Hal declined stating that his extra efforts had decreased their value by 50%. It was a great place to hang out, share stories and learn more about his time and experiences as a radio broadcaster.

When Hal and Sue married we had a reception for them at our former home in San Mateo. We were good friends and thoroughly enjoyed their company. One New Years´ we farmed out our sons and went to Reno on the train with Hal and Sue. Even though Hal was accidentally drenched with orange juice by the waiter in the dining car on the way up, that leg of the trip was the best part of the entire train ride. We had a great time in Reno and stayed in the casinos most of the time as the wind chill was considerably below zero. We practiced the rules Hal taught us while playing Black Jack and then bet his numbers on Roulette. Things were going well. We checked out of our hotel to head off to catch the train in the morning only to find out it was delayed indefinitely. We were scheduled to catch the Chicago Zephyr which was losing car after car from frozen water pipes as it traveled out to California. After ten hours of waiting, we boarded a string of coaches with no dining car. Luckily just before boarding we purchased a handful of candy bars and ate them as our dinner. Hal was always the calm one taking every thing in stride. Nothing seemed to faze him not even the engine plowing its way through the snow while it chugged over the passes or its excessive speed down the mountain and back to the Bay Area. What an adventure, we talked about it for years. It almost seems funny now.

We kept in touch and even visited Hal and Sue after they moved from San Mateo. We took our two sons to visit them in Jackson Hole, where Hal had another Camera Shop
"The Shutter Bug" and Sue worked in a bank. They showed us around the town and Hal took an "Old West" family photo depicting us as a gang of desperadoes with a dancehall queen. Hal loved Wyoming; he called it "God´s Country." We had to agree.

I don´t know what took us East but we made time to visit Hal when he was in Aushnet. It was just before his camera shop was robbed. He took time off to show us all the tourist sites and maritime museums. We covered two or three states and caught up on a lot of loss time.

Hal was one of those special people with whom you could maintain a friendship even though you didn´t see each other for years. Almost every year while Hal was away from California, I called on Christmas Eve just to say hi and check on how he and the boys were doing. Hal was always proud of his sons and what they were doing. He always bragged on them. Hal was also extremely proud of his grand daughters. In 2003 my family surprised me with a BIG birthday party. Just about everyone was invited including Hal. Hal couldn´t make the trip but contrived with my wife a way to call and record a message to me which was played at the party. I was very touched and will keep and cherish his recording forever. We will miss him.

Robert (Bob) Simmons

August 26, 2007

I worked with Hal for two years at KSL, and carried on the "Quarters for Christmas" program after he left---It is still going, and unfortunately I get credit for originating it----but have corrected that idea several times. I had the greatest respect and admiration for Hal--not only as a superb and talented broadcaster but also a wonderful human being. The obit says that he was host of "Weekend" at KSL---but he was also on daily 10-2 following my morning shift. We collected coins together, played poker together and I loved his company---We split, and went for other careers---But Hal's impact on me still lasts---A man of integrity Thanks for the chance to express myself----Dr. Simmons

Kathy Hodgkins

August 26, 2007

A couple of years ago, I signed up for a photography class with Hal. I enjoyed his class so much because he spoke with such enthusiam about all the places he visited and photographed. He made us all feel like there wasn't anything we could not do. Hal's field trips were such a learning experience and lots of fun! I began missing him the day I went to his little shop and learned he was closing up and moving South. I'm so grateful that on that day I got the chance to thank him for my appreciation of photography and all the joys that one single photo can bring. Hal is missed so by many, already!

Martha Henson

August 25, 2007

I had the pleasure of meeting Howard shortly before he passed. From the many wonderful stories that i heard reiterated at the memorial service i know that he was an exceptional man and was an inspiration to many during the course of his life. I only feel sorrow in not having the priviledge to have met him during his prime. I know he will be greatly missed but also lovingly remembered.

Ashley June Peterson

August 24, 2007

My grandpa instilled a profound love for photography in me. I am forever grateful to him for that. Hal had the gift of showing the people in his life how to view the world from every angle. I am honored to have been his granddaughter. I will miss him terribly, but I will always remember his remarkable life.

Stacy Peterson

August 23, 2007

What is a man? A son; a brother; a man that fights for his country; a father. What is a great man? A son that loves his parents and supports and is supported by them that even after their passing recalls countless stories of them. A brother that a sister proudly looks up to and can share stories of past family times. A soldier that flies high in the sky as a gunner in the back of a WWII plane sent to defend the freedom of his country. A father who listens to his children and guides them to be the best that they can be. A great man stands by his children and defends them when no one else will.
All of these things are just part of what a great man my father in law was.
The thing that I will miss most about Hal is his stories that he told better than anyone I have ever met before. His timing and voice were so important while telling his story, that you often felt like you were really there. I could fill a book with the stories I was so blessed to hear over the past 11 years. Even when I was privileged enough to be in the same room while he was telling the stories to someone else, he always was able to tell it like it was the first time. Everyone that met him got the same experience from his stories. I am sure many of us remember the story he told when he was growing up with his sister Natalie and she went to the store to get a birthday card for their mother and was very adamant about getting the ones with the pretty flowers on the front. Hal could not argue with her so, he allowed her to get the card. Sure, his mother was very surprised to get a sympathy card for her birthday, but at least her daughter picked it out.
Who could forget the camping stories, the A´s baseball game outings that he told of so fondly, the trips across country, the stories about Jackson Hole that made you want to pack your bag and go see the Tetons. I always thought that I would be able to make it to Jackson with Hal, Mark and Glen. But I know that if I ever get there, Hal will already be there waiting for us.
The man I knew was not 1/100th of the man that my husband Glen and his brother Mark were privileged enough to know. I was not able to see him in his "prime" but I sure did hear about all the stories.
Penny, Nickel, Toby, Mickey Mouse, BJ, Sheba, Joey, Nibby, Angel, Sassy, and Moe - are but some of the animals that made up some funny stories and brought so much happiness to him.
Loved by all, Hal was a man that I wish could have been with us longer. He was the father I never had, and treated me with so much love that I feel honored to be among the many that knew him.
Ashley, Courtney, Glen, Mark, Natalie,Susie, Cathy and I were allowed by God to have been able to know, if only for a short time, a GREAT man.
Hal, I never got to tell you what I wanted, as I thought I had more time, but I love you from the bottom of my heart and thank you for being a great father, grandfather. I feel like I have just lost the only father I have ever had, and I was not even your daughter. Even know the words were rarely there, I love you, Dad!

mark peterson

August 23, 2007

my beloved father wanted each and all in the new bedford area and salt lake city to know that he truly appreciated ALL you gave him thru his radio programs. he felt truly honored being allowed to talk, listen and help in any way he was able, be it with the "Quarters for Christmas", helping the orphanages, etc. He Never Tired, it was his Honor to do what he did for the city of New Bedford. And both my brother Glen and myself will miss him greatly.

1972 Vistit at Mark's Honor Camp - (1972)

January 11, 2009

Hal's Grand-daughter - (08/17/1989) - This is a nice photo that Hal took of his grand-daughter Courtney during her Baptism.

October 2, 2007

Susie in Massachusetts - (08/28/2007) - This is Hal's second wife (and love of his life) Susie in MA when Mark went for a visit after Hal's passing.

October 2, 2007

Glen fishing in Jackson - (07/25/1968) - Hal didn't really like fishing all that much. But he loved his kids and he spent all day in a boat (another thing he hated) while Glen caught all these fish!

October 2, 2007

Family at wake - (08/20/2007) - from left: Hal's son Glen, grand-daughter Courtney, son Mark, former daughter-in-law Cathy and Grand-daughter Ashley

October 2, 2007

Hal 2002 - (02/25/2002) - This was from 2002, Hal was stil in Acushnet, MA and before he starting losing so much weight from the cancer.

October 2, 2007

Hal's Mother - (06/01/1977) - Viola F. Peterson, Hal and Natalie's mother. Such a sweet, sweet lady. This was near the end of her life when she came to live with Hal, Sue and Glen in San Mateo, CA

October 2, 2007

Old newspaper clipping - (10/01/1961) - Hal "eats his hat" as he promised to do on his radio show if the Red Sox won the pennant. Sorry it's hard to see... from micro film

October 2, 2007

Hal's sister and his friend - (08/28/2007) - from left: Hal's sister Natalie visiting with Rita Blair while in Mass.

October 2, 2007

Hal's Grand-daughters - (08/20/2007) - From left: Ashley June and Courtney Leigh Peterson, Hal's Grand-daughters at his Memorial Service

October 2, 2007

Mark and Hal - (08/10/2007) - The last picture of Hal with his son Mark

September 5, 2007

Peterson Family - (11/25/2002) - Thanksgiving 2002 Peterson Family on a rare get-together

September 5, 2007

Hal's son Glen and dog "Penny" - (1961) - This is an old slide of Hal's son Glen with Hal's dog named .... you guessed it "Penny".

August 26, 2007

"Weekend" Band - (07/1967) - This is a photo of the 3-piece band that Hal played in during episodes of KSL's "Weekend" Variety show.

August 26, 2007

Natalie Peterson - (1952) - Hal's sister Nat, I think ths is her Senior pic from High School

August 25, 2007

Sammy Davis Jr. - (1988) - One of Hal's all-time favorite entertainers, showed up at Brook's Cameras in Boston. Hal made the trip to meet him and take this pic.

August 25, 2007

Listener's Plaque Part 2 - (1964) - 2nd part of plaque

August 24, 2007

WBSM Listener Plaque - (1964) - This is a plaque given by the listeners of WBSM's "Open Line" when Hal left New Bedford for Salt Lake.

August 23, 2007

Eyewitness News - (1965)

August 23, 2007

KSL Studios - (1956) - This is a picture of the KSL Studios in Salt Lake City, Utah... Hal's first venture into television.

August 23, 2007

Hal's memorial service flowers... - (08/20/2007) - Hal's Memorial Service... flowers and photo box

August 23, 2007

Charles, Viola and Natalie Peterson - (1940) - Hal's father Charles, mother Viola and sister Natalie with unknown relative

August 23, 2007

Hal & Susie and the Tetons - (1980)

August 23, 2007

The Petersons - (2007)

August 23, 2007

raking in a pot

August 23, 2007

Hal and his son Glen - (2007)

August 23, 2007

Hal and Grand-daughters

August 23, 2007

One of Hal's last days - This is Hal with his dog "Sassy" and Mark's cat "Mohawk"

August 23, 2007

Hal's grand-daughters Ashley & Courtney - (2007)

August 23, 2007

Fathers Day - (06/2000) - Glen and his pop share a moment on fathers day in a mall in MA.

January 8, 2009

Dad and Stacy - (2001) - Dad, Glen and Stacy took a day trip to Plymouth, MA

January 8, 2009

Welcoming Josh to Family - (10/11/2008) - Peterson's get to meet Josh, Mark's son. Present were Josh, Glen, Stacy, Ashley, Courtney, AJ (ash's boyfriend) and Mark.

October 29, 2008

Donna Bastarache

September 5, 2007

Hal was such a good friend to me in the short time we knew each other. We got to know each other due to my lack of knowledge using a camera. We first met after I purchased a ‘Nikon’ on EBay and couldn’t get it to work. I went to his shop to find out what was wrong with it – of course his first diagnosis was ‘it’s a Nikon’(and if you knew Hal, you knew how he felt about Nikon), however it was an easy fix. He told me that I ‘should’ take his class; I did and loved every minute of it. He taught me many things but most of all was how to laugh at myself! We had many, many good laughs from my picture taking abilities – mostly my ‘F’ stop use (or lack there of). That gave him a great deal of laughter and frustration! I’m glad I could keep him laughing – at my expense. I can not say enough of how much I have missed going to the shop and just listening to his stories… he was such a wealth of information, and his way of telling his stories kept me glued and wanting to hear more. I will always treasure my ‘hour’ long film drop offs. I have missed the way he would answer the phone “whaaaaaling city camera” since he left Acushnet!!!
Hal, I will never forget you. With every picture I take you will be in my thoughts. With every film development, I will chuckle because I know you would say ‘she still doesn’t get it’!!!
After the move to NC we kept in touch via snail mail, also I would email Mark blonde jokes for him. I will treasure his letters. I will treasure our friendship and I will forever long to visit Jackson Hole!! (Even though I have been there through his photos and stories.)
Thank you Hal!!!!! You have been missed since your move, and now you will be missed in life.
To Hal’s family, I send my deepest sympathies and also much gratitude for being there for him and with him.
Mark, I hope we will still keep in touch.

Richard Sansoucy

September 3, 2007

Hal I will miss you.You have been a good friend for many years.I use to stop a chat with him on many days at the camera shop.I aslo enjoyed his photo classes.Memory of him also taking pictures of my daughters for their modeling classes.I also still have my canon A-1 and my pentax 1000.Which I have enjoyed in the classes he gave us.I was very schocked not to see him in the Acushnet Camera shop.I asked around ,no one knew where he went.I use to see Natalie once in a while visit him at the shop.Hal we will all miss you.And to the family my God be with him.He was a very good friend.

rita blair

September 1, 2007

Pageants introdued me to Hal Peterson! That was the beginng of our years of working together. He always said yes to my requests to MC Pageants were very popular at that time and his voice was just the the icing on the cake! He was able to consol an entrant`s nerves, made each contestant feel she was the "winner" !
We were always planning another pageant for the local youg ladies including the Miss America Pageant on the local level. His camera was always available during rehearsals.
Years later when pageants faded away, he then joined me at the New Bedford Ice Rink where he would photogragh all the young skaters.
Again he was also availabe to MC the ice skating show making every skater feel like a champion!!
He was a friend that will be missed by all those who had the opportunity of knowing him; as well as working with him.
He will be remembered by all those contenstnants and budding ice skaters - more fondly none as the man with the camera!

David A Medeiros

August 31, 2007

WITH DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HAL'S FAMILY.ILOVE CAMERAS,AN PHOTOGRAPHY I SPENT LOTS OF TIME AT WHALING CITY CAMERA HAL A I WOULD TALK ABOUT HIS CANON AN I ABOUT MY NIKON,LEICA CAMERS HE WON ME OVER BECAUSE I BOUGHT THREE CANONS FROM HIM HE LOVED PHOTGRAPHY AS MUCH AS RADIO I THINK I WILL MISS THOSE TALKS, VERY MUCH,BUT I KNOW IN HEVEN I WILL SEE HAL AGAIN HE WILL TAKING PHOTO'S WITH HIS CANON. GOD BLESS YOU HAL .DAVE

David De Smidt

August 26, 2007

My wife, Mandy and I send our deepest sympathy to Glenn and Mark and their families for the loss. We know what a close family they were and what a big emptiness Hal’s passing has left in their hearts. We hope some of the memories we share here will help him live on for all of us.

I met Hal in 1969 or 70 when he operated a Camper Dealership on El Camino in San Mateo. Shortly after we met, he opened the Coin Shop in San Mateo. I remember there being a very popular pinball machine in the shop.

After opening the Coin Shop, Hal started a Coin Club and each month selected investment grade bills and coins commensurate with the value of the monthly club dues for each member. I still have those envelopes and other coins he recommended. The club was active for years and Hal was very patient with all of us attempting to provide us with education and knowledge that would help us become savvy numismatists. I remember one particular occasion when his patience was sorely challenged. One member purchased a large bag of pennies for investment as recommended by Hal. When they went up in value he asked Hal to repurchase them at above market value because he had been very diligent in cleaning and polishing each and every penny. He suffered a hard lesson when Hal declined stating that his extra efforts had decreased their value by 50%. It was a great place to hang out, share stories and learn more about his time and experiences as a radio broadcaster.

When Hal and Sue married we had a reception for them at our former home in San Mateo. We were good friends and thoroughly enjoyed their company. One New Years’ we farmed out our sons and went to Reno on the train with Hal and Sue. Even though Hal was accidentally drenched with orange juice by the waiter in the dining car on the way up, that leg of the trip was the best part of the entire train ride. We had a great time in Reno and stayed in the casinos most of the time as the wind chill was considerably below zero. We practiced the rules Hal taught us while playing Black Jack and then bet his numbers on Roulette. Things were going well. We checked out of our hotel to head off to catch the train in the morning only to find out it was delayed indefinitely. We were scheduled to catch the Chicago Zephyr which was losing car after car from frozen water pipes as it traveled out to California. After ten hours of waiting, we boarded a string of coaches with no dining car. Luckily just before boarding we purchased a handful of candy bars and ate them as our dinner. Hal was always the calm one taking every thing in stride. Nothing seemed to faze him not even the engine plowing its way through the snow while it chugged over the passes or its excessive speed down the mountain and back to the Bay Area. What an adventure, we talked about it for years. It almost seems funny now.

We kept in touch and even visited Hal and Sue after they moved from San Mateo. We took our two sons to visit them in Jackson Hole, where Hal had another Camera Shop
”The Shutter Bug” and Sue worked in a bank. They showed us around the town and Hal took an “Old West” family photo depicting us as a gang of desperadoes with a dancehall queen. Hal loved Wyoming; he called it “God’s Country.” We had to agree.

I don’t know what took us East but we made time to visit Hal when he was in Aushnet. It was just before his camera shop was robbed. He took time off to show us all the tourist sites and maritime museums. We covered two or three states and caught up on a lot of loss time.

Hal was one of those special people with whom you could maintain a friendship even though you didn’t see each other for years. Almost every year while Hal was away from California, I called on Christmas Eve just to say hi and check on how he and the boys were doing. Hal was always proud of his sons and what they were doing. He always bragged on them. Hal was also extremely proud of his grand daughters. In 2003 my family surprised me with a BIG birthday party. Just about everyone was invited including Hal. Hal couldn’t make the trip but contrived with my wife a way to call and record a message to me which was played at the party. I was very touched and will keep and cherish his recording forever. We will miss him.

Robert (Bob) Simmons

August 26, 2007

Kathy Hodgkins

August 26, 2007

Martha Henson

August 25, 2007

Ashley June Peterson

August 24, 2007

Stacy Peterson

August 23, 2007

What is a man? A son; a brother; a man that fights for his country; a father. What is a great man? A son that loves his parents and supports and is supported by them that even after their passing recalls countless stories of them. A brother that a sister proudly looks up to and can share stories of past family times. A soldier that flies high in the sky as a gunner in the back of a WWII plane sent to defend the freedom of his country. A father who listens to his children and guides them to be the best that they can be. A great man stands by his children and defends them when no one else will.
All of these things are just part of what a great man my father in law was.
The thing that I will miss most about Hal is his stories that he told better than anyone I have ever met before. His timing and voice were so important while telling his story, that you often felt like you were really there. I could fill a book with the stories I was so blessed to hear over the past 11 years. Even when I was privileged enough to be in the same room while he was telling the stories to someone else, he always was able to tell it like it was the first time. Everyone that met him got the same experience from his stories. I am sure many of us remember the story he told when he was growing up with his sister Natalie and she went to the store to get a birthday card for their mother and was very adamant about getting the ones with the pretty flowers on the front. Hal could not argue with her so, he allowed her to get the card. Sure, his mother was very surprised to get a sympathy card for her birthday, but at least her daughter picked it out.
Who could forget the camping stories, the A’s baseball game outings that he told of so fondly, the trips across country, the stories about Jackson Hole that made you want to pack your bag and go see the Tetons. I always thought that I would be able to make it to Jackson with Hal, Mark and Glen. But I know that if I ever get there, Hal will already be there waiting for us.
The man I knew was not 1/100th of the man that my husband Glen and his brother Mark were privileged enough to know. I was not able to see him in his “prime” but I sure did hear about all the stories.
Penny, Nickel, Toby, Mickey Mouse, BJ, Sheba, Joey, Nibby, Angel, Sassy, and Moe – are but some of the animals that made up some funny stories and brought so much happiness to him.
Loved by all, Hal was a man that I wish could have been with us longer. He was the father I never had, and treated me with so much love that I feel honored to be among the many that knew him.
Ashley, Courtney, Glen, Mark, Natalie,Susie, Cathy and I were allowed by God to have been able to know, if only for a short time, a GREAT man.
Hal, I never got to tell you what I wanted, as I thought I had more time, but I love you from the bottom of my heart and thank you for being a great father, grandfather. I feel like I have just lost the only father I have ever had, and I was not even your daughter. Even know the words were rarely there, I love you, Dad!

mark peterson

August 23, 2007

Bill M

August 28, 2007

Hal,
God bless! You made a huge impact in this world and touched so many with your incredible knowledge and commitment to your beliefs. You were a joy to listen to and talk to! You are greatly missed. God bless you and all you touched over the years. God Speed!
Bill

Jeanne Chadwick

August 26, 2007

Hal Peterson was an icon in New Bedford on the "Open Line" program at WBSM. I grew up listening to Hal Peterson online, as many other people did. I use to enjoy the debates and conversations with Hal as many people did during those years.

Open Line was an icon program too - a voice for the people - the little guy who could voice their opinion and discuss it in a public forum without having to leave home.

May his journey be swift and many blessings to his family and friends - it's sad to lose someone we care about, but he lived a good, long life and will be remembered by many people.

RAYNOLD CABRAL

August 26, 2007

AS A FRIEND AND LISTNER TO HALS BROADCASTS YES HE SET STANDARDS HERE IN New Bedford,,,HAL HAD A GREAT TOLERANCE FOR THOSE WHO CALLED HIM,, GOD DID HE ,,, MAY GOD REST HIS SOUL AND YES QUATERS FOR CHRISTMAS IS STILL GOING ON AND IT SHOULD BE VERY WELL NAMED IN HIS MEMORY,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bruce Hartman

August 26, 2007

What a beautiful and smooth voice he had.
Hal was a great professional broadcaster.
My deepest condolences.

David Krenmayer

August 26, 2007

I'm so sorry to hear that Hal has passed on. I use to be known as "Little" Davy Krenmayer to Hal when i pitched for New Bedford Ma in early 1960's. I have often thought of him over the years. God bless him and all that loved him.

M.L. (Mark Louis) Baron

August 26, 2007

Hal-If I may quote from William Shakespeare-"You were a last without parallel." You were the steadfast eagl of WBSM. (like the Channel 6 Icon now at Rt 18 downtown) I hope they have some kind of memorial in your honor someplace in the City of New Bedford.

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