Celebrating the life of Eric Ronald “Ronnie” Peterson

Eric Ronald “Ronnie” Peterson, 84, of Allentown, NJ passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at his home. Born in Brooklyn, he grew up in Mahopac, NY on a family farm. After he married, Ron raised his family in Staten Island and later River Vale, NJ. His retired years were spent in Old Tappan and Allentown, NJ. After serving our country as a veteran of the Korean War, he tirelessly ran his family business, Peterson and Sons, Inc. for forty years. Ron was known for his kind and generous spirit, his limitless curiosity, and his lively sense of humor. He also had a penchant for White Zinfandel. He got his pilot’s license in his 20’s and liked to fly his family around the east coast even into his 60’s (he often picked up his grandkids and their friends from school in Boston)!

After retirement, when he wasn’t winning at cards (bridge and gin rummy) or working around the house; Ron was playing golf, bowling, swimming or planning trips around the globe. Ron was a constant memory keeper with a video camera on his shoulder and his mind in his genealogy research. He made sure to attend as many of his kids and grandkids sports games as possible, relishing in their success. Ron was also an athlete himself having earned all four varsity letters in high school and diving competitively in the military (he was the only grandpa his family knew who could do a backflip).

Ron loved only one woman. His passion for Astrid “Ott” Peterson was the epitome of a true love. He was smitten from their first meeting soon after high school. Ron always remembered exactly how many days they were separated while he served in the Korean War. Ott and Ron were the envy of all who knew them: a movie star beautiful couple with no idea how special they were. Their fifty-eight years together were full and rich, surrounded by their four children, ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Son of the late Erik and Ruth Peterson, Ron was predeceased by his wife Astrid Peterson. Ronnie is survived by his children and their spouses, Bruce Peterson and Noreen Haren of Hoboken, Eric and Anne Peterson of Indianola, IA, Gail Peterson and her fiancé Rusty Sather of Mt. Olive and Scott and Susan Peterson of Cream Ridge; his grandchildren, Alyse and her husband Matt Livingston, Luke, Robert, Jesse, Christopher, Robert, Steven, Zachary, Hayley and Kayla as well as his great grandchildren, Sophie, Jakob, Jaylyn and Braeleigh.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 am at Ballard Barrett Cemetery in Mahopac, NY on July 16th. A celebration of his life will immediately follow. Donations in Ron’s memory can be made to a fund in his name c/o The New York Blood Center attention Robert Purvis; 310 E 67th Street NY, NY 10065. Arrangements are under the direction of the Peppler Funeral Home, Allentown, NJ.