 PETERSON, DAN A. Dan A. Peterson, 84, a resident of Winter Park, Florida passed away on September 17, 2014 due to complications from Parkinson's Disease. Dan died at his summer home in Cashiers, North Carolina with his beloved wife Gina by his side. Dan was born to Dan and Lois Peterson in Holton, Kansas and was raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1948 and attended the University of New Mexico where he received his BS and Master's degree. While attending the University of New Mexico, Dan played football for the UNM Lobos in 1948 and 1949 and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He also served in the U.S. Air Force for four years during the Korean War. Mr. Peterson spent over 40 years in the aerospace industry. He began his early years with Douglas Aircraft and Thiokol Chemical, a leader in rocket propulsion systems. He was subsequently transferred into Thiokol's Marketing organization, spending several years in Thiokol's Washington and Western Regional Offices. He joined Martin Marietta in 1968, in its Orlando Aerospace operation as marketing director. He spent nearly 30 years at Martin Marietta, now Lockheed Martin, in a number of senior positions. In 1990, Mr. Peterson was made Senior VP of Martin Marietta's Washington Operations, where he remained until his retirement as a Corporate Officer of Lockheed Martin in 1996. While an executive of Lockheed Martin, Mr. Peterson was directly involved in a number of economic development activities. In New Mexico, he was Chairman of the Technology Ventures Corporation, a non-profit company funded by Lockheed Martin with a mission to help Sandia National Laboratory transfer it's technology to the private sector. He also was twice Chairman of New Mexico, Inc., a non-profit corporation with a mission to help small manufacturing companies in New Mexico and four other states. He also served as Director on two university boards with similar missions, the University of Pennsylvania at East Stroudsburg, PA, and Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia. After his retirement, Mr. Peterson was president of his own consulting firm and continued to consult for Lockheed Martin, and other companies. He also participated in several Defense Science Board studies for the U.S. Department of Defense, and was a member of the Transition Team for the Secretary of the U.S. Army. Dan will best be remembered for his dedication to hard work and his altruism for charitable works in the field of education. He had an innovative and keen mind, always full of energy and curiosity. Forgiving and patient by nature, combined with a love of life, made him a friend to all and a treasure to those close to him. He was a kind and loving soul. Besides his family and friends, his greatest joy was fly fishing. He fished many streams, but his favorite was the San Juan River in northern New Mexico! Dan also enjoyed a game of golf and watching his favorite football teams! Dan is survived by wife, Gina Peterson of Winter Park, Florida; daughter, Jill Peterson Borrego, (Joe) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; son, Dan Randall Peterson, (Christi) of Cortez, Colorado; grandson, Ross Peterson, (Sarina); granddaughter, Raleigh Peterson; great- granddaughter, Quinn Cameron Peterson; son, Scott Peterson, (Vivian) of Melbourne, Florida; grandsons, Ridge and Cole Peterson; sister, MaryAnn Peterson; sister, Helen Person, (Jim); brother Richard Peterson, (Barbara); and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on October 4, 2014 at Florida Hospital Church, 2800 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, Florida 32804. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made through the Florida Hospital Church - Dan Peterson Foundation for Education. If you would like to share your memories of Dan, pleased go to www.forevermissed.com.
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