Jon F. Peterson

Jon Fredrick “Pete” Peterson, age 84 of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away peacefully at Anne Arundel Medical Center on February 21, 2021, after the blessing of being visited by his closest family members.

Jon was born to Amy J. Peterson and John F. Peterson on March 28, 1936 in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It was in Bradford where he spent his formative years, going to school and proudly delivering papers as a young man.

Jon is a graduate of Bradford High School, where he was known for his talent on the basketball court, which earned him a basketball scholarship to Mansfield University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Mansfield. Jon also completed a master’s degree in Education Administration from Frostburg University. Jon’s knowledge and love of basketball afforded him an opportunity to be a scout for the University of Virginia basketball team for several years, working along with his basketball coach from Mansfield.

On August 5, 1961, Jon married Eileen Burke, his beloved wife of 59 years. The first 30 years of their marriage were spent in Bowie, Maryland where they raised their son, Jon, who left us too early at the age of 7 and their two daughters, Julie, and Jennifer.  Jon and Eileen eventually moved to Annapolis, MD and spent almost 20 years there.

Jon began his professional career as a teacher at Frederick Sasscer High School in Upper Marlboro, MD. Five years later, he joined the Pupil Personnel Department of the PG County School System, later becoming an assistant at Pupil Accounting and School Boundaries. Several years later, he assumed the role of Director of Pupil Accounting and School Boundaries and remained in that position until his retirement in 1990. Interestingly, Jon ended his career with the PG County Board of Education in the same place his career began, the Sasscer Building.

Jon was a member of the Elks and the Knights of Columbus and was an active member of Sacred Heart Church. In retirement, he actively participated in Habitat for Humanity and St. Mary’s St. Vincent de Paul Society. Public service and a concern for those in need was always at the forefront of everything that Pete did. He was truly a good man.

Jon is survived by his wife Eileen, his sister Joyce, his daughters - Julie and Jennifer, his sons-in-law -  Robert Guenther and Dave Helmecki, his 5 grandchildren - Joshua, Caleb, Grace, Caitlin, and Gabrielle, and his 5 great grandchildren – Zoe, Azelie, Ezekiel, Ezra, and Zenaida. We find comfort knowing that Jon has gone home to be with his son Jon and is at peace with our Lord as he continues to watch over us from above with that Pop Pop smile that we all came to love and will miss so much.

A public celebration of Jon’s life will be held on March 13, 2021 at Sacred Heart Church in Bowie, Maryland. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The visitation will be followed by a Funeral Mass at Noon. The burial will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Monsignor Thomas Wells Society for Vocations: Att: Kevin Wells, 1641 Isabella Court, Millersville, Maryland 21108  or to the Sacred Heart Good Samaritan Fund:  c/o Sacred Heart Church, 16501 Annapolis Road, Bowie, Maryland 20715.