JOHN C. died on July 28, 2012, at his Cedar Crest, N.M. home. He was born on Dec. 2, 1943, in Monroe, La. to John C. Peterson and Violet Mae Crain. He was raised in Western Pennsylvania near Bakerstown. He graduated in 1961 from Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pa. In the early 1960s, he attended forestry school at Pennsylvania State University, Mont Alto, Pa. and Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colo. In Dec. 1968, he graduated from Utah State University, Logan, Utah with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management. He married Carolyn K. Surman in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1965. After graduation, he began his career with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a fish and wildlife biologist. Over the years, he was stationed in Bloomington, Ind., Lebanon, Ohio, Washington, DC, and Albuquerque. He was field office supervisor for several years of the USFWS New Mexico Field Office in Albuquerque. After retirement, he and his wife cared for foster teens under a special program sponsored by Hogare's in Albuquerque. Horses and riding were one of his passions, as was his interest in the history of the Old West history. For many years, John also enjoyed building and racing exotic sports cars. A few years ago, John was part of coalition of people who raised government funding to purchase a $2 million parcel of land which expanded the Albuquerque's East Mountain public open space area. Since the 1970s, he served in various positions on the Sierra Vista Mutual Domestic Association board of directors, including president. SVMDA provides drinking water to Sierra Vista Estates. He was also president of the Cedar Crest Mutual Domestic Water Consumers & Sewage Works Association, another water company providing water to commercial businesses and homes. John was a 13-year survivor of prostate cancer. He was cared at home with the help from Hospice de la Luz. He is survived by his wife; his brother, Gregory H. Peterson, and his wife, Susan Cohen, Bakerstown, Pa. and his brother-in-law, Robert F. Surman and his wife, Judy, Concord, Ca. and many cousins. John was buried on Aug 2, 2012 in the Hermosa Cemetery, Durango, Colo. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Trust for Public Land, 607 Cerrillos Road, Suite F1, Santa Fe, NM 87505 or to Hospice de la Luz, 3812 Academy Parkway North NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.
|
