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1933 - 2018

BORN

1933

DIED

2018

About

Lowell High School

Arthur Peterson Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for Arthur Peterson
Start: 2018-09-30T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2018-10-01T01:00:00.000Z
Location: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House

Arthur (Art) Peterson

(1933)

Fondly remembered and mourned by many, the teacher and author Art Peterson was born in Berkeley at a time when, as he recalled with typical whimsey, the city's only gourmet restaurant was featuring mint jelly. After graduating from Berkeley High School and San Jose State College, Art served a tour of duty with the US Marines. But his passion, he discovered when back in civilian life, was for education teenagers, who took readily to his modest, humorous, and empathetic manner of instruction. At first in Santa Cruz and then at Herbert Hoover and Everett Junior High Schools in San Francisco, he honed the skills and developed the pedagogical innovations that he then implemented brilliantly as a teacher of English and film at Lowell High School, where he remained until his retirement. Generations of Lowell students profited especially from his instruction in principles of sound and lively writing.

The first of Art's five books, Teachers: A Survival Guide for the Grownup in the Classroom, appeared in 1985. Drawing on his own experience, the book was both candid and funny in advising his colleagues to persevere while never taking themselves too seriously—as Art himself never did. By then he was already associated with the University of California's Bay Area Writing Project which would eventually become the National Writing Project. After retiring from Lowell, he served in Berkeley as the Project's senior editor, a role that extended his constructive influence to pioneer teachers around the country. And it was in this phase, in 1996, that he published his most practical and most influential volume, The Writer's Workout Book: 113 Stretches Toward Better Prose. Finally, in 2013, Art expressed his abiding love of his favorite city in the droll and historically informed Why is that Bridge Orange, San Francisco for the curious.

Art's final years were enhanced by his marriage to Carol Peterson, an artist and jazz singer. The two of them traveled the world and enjoyed a wonderful life filled with love and fun. Earlier, he was predeceased by his first wife, Norma Peterson. He is survived by his two children, Brendan and Elizabeth as well as his sister Betty crews, and several grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held September 30, 2018 from 2-6 pm at Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St., San Francisco.

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

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Sep. 20 to Sep. 26, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Arthur Peterson

15 Entries

Bart Kay

February 3, 2021

I was searching for a book that Mr. Peterson wrote, when I stumbled onto his obituary. Writing has never been my strong suit. It never came naturally. So one afternoon, when we were shooting the breeze, after his Film As Lit class at Lowell, he told me to start writing for absolutely no reason. A thought, a letter, a joke, whatever. Didn't have to be serious. Just prime the brain to write without over thinking too much. I still write for sake of just writing. He was a perfectly quirky teacher. He will be missed, but his lessons will live through his students.

Barbara Bocci

October 14, 2018

It was an honor to know Art, Carol, and Elizabeth. Art had a sparkle and a subtle wit. Sorry he is no longer with us because he made this a better world.

Deborah Dunn

October 8, 2018

I had some of my best teaching years influenced by Art at Everett. His crazy fun creative projects with his students were an inspiration. And his funny sardonic smile and humor a gift to all who knew him. He is clearly irreplaceable.

Kenny Mok

September 30, 2018

Mr. Peterson was instrumental in helping me hone in my writing skills. For that, I am very grateful. He was always a kind and patient teacher, passionate about his art of teaching.

Dina Goldman

September 28, 2018

Mr. Peterson was my English teacher at Lowell in the early 80s. He was a wonderful teacher, who taught me how to write. That's a gift that has stayed with me through college, law school, and my career. I'm happy to see that he continued to write throughout his life. My condolences to his family.

Howard Wong

September 28, 2018

My deepest condolences. Art's longtime leadership as editor of the Semaphore, our neighborhood newspaper, inspired many of us to write creative articles. Reading about his rich educational experiences, I can now see the origins of his mischievous frankness and prodding as a tough taskmaster. We will miss his wide knowledge, interesting conversation and contributions to community. Art Peterson lived a long and interesting life.

Lucy Lee (maiden name Fong)

September 27, 2018

My sincerest condolences to the Peterson family. I wish you love and peace. I had Mr. Peterson for English at Lowell High School in the early 80s. It was a creative writing class that had students of all grades. He would start each class by giving us one word he would write on the chalkboard, and give us 5 minutes to write anything that came into our heads about that word, to get our creative minds going. Then he would ask students to share what they wrote, and help shape how those thoughts into an interesting paper. To this day I remember much of what he taught me. I write each day in my career and I have passed down some of his guidance to my own children and my staff at work. Mr. Peterson was the best English teacher I ever had. Thank you.

Sabrina Gee-Shin

September 27, 2018

He was my absolute favorite writing teacher at Lowell. I was Class of 85 and I loved his crazy, creative pedagogy. - Sabrina Gee-Shin

Susan Cadinha-Marks

September 27, 2018

Mr. Peterson was such a great teacher. I loved being in his classes at Hoover. He was exciting, always moving around and we were always doing something totally different than in any other class. I was in his classes from '69-70, so long ago but the memories are still vivid. Thanks, Mr. Peterson.

Mary McRae

September 26, 2018

Mr. Peterson was my favorite teacher at Hoover. He was always kind and had a way of making learning fun. We learned about the Greeks and after had Greek food at his home to celebrate. I am so grateful for all he taught me.

Vicki Young

September 26, 2018

Mr. Peterson was my teacher at Hoover Jr. High, and was SO kind, funny, and inspirational. I will never forget him.

September 23, 2018

Art was my favorite teacher in all of my years of schooling in San Francisco (K-12). He was my history teacher at Hoover in the '60's and I still remember the chalk in his hand and his rushing back and forth across the blackboard. Sometimes, the chalk got on his suit. Most importantly, he imparted a true joy of learning and to this day, I still automatically identify columns as Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian because of him. He smiled and he paid attention. I always thought that he saw me sitting there in his classroom and that I mattered. RIP, Art, you live on in my heart, my mind, and the minds of my family who have learned to identify columns through his teaching. Thank you. - Jill Hersh

Sarah Pearce

September 22, 2018

Mr. Peterson was my English teacher at Hoover in the early 70s. He is the only teacher that I recall actually encouraging me to write fiction. His education style was one I sought more of in my public school experience...but unfortunately I never found it again.

September 21, 2018

What a great guy. Glad to get to know him. We will miss him.
Love,
Sue and Dan Raybin

September 20, 2018

Psalms 90:10 says that the days of our years are 70 years, And if because of special mightiness they are 80 years. May the memories of the wonderful times you shared together bring a smile and joy in your heart.

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