Alice Brooks Peterson
Died June 18, 2014
LELAND — Alice Brooks
Peterson, born in Boston, Mass., on May 11, 1927, to Nicholas Ellsworth
Peterson (native of Suttons Bay) and Julia Brooks McClure Peterson (native of
Vandergrift, Pa.) passed away peacefully on June 18, 2014.
She grew up in Wellesley
Hills, Mass., graduated from Wellesley High School in 1945 and from Wellesley
College in 1949. She received her MBA from Babson College.
She worked briefly for
General Radio and then joined the John Hancock Company where she became a
trail-blazer as the first woman vice-president overseeing the bond department.
She counseled and trained new analysts qualifying them for promotion to senior
positions in the company. After 34 years, she retired and moved to Michigan –
first to Kalamazoo to be near her brother George, and then to Leland to be near
her childhood summer vacation spot and many cousins.
Alice served on the board
of the Boston YWCA and was deeply involved in its many activities. The National
YWCA Board awarded her the “Tribute to Women in International Industry” in
1986. In Leland she volunteered for ShareCare, supported the Leelanau
Conservancy and was a member of Sons of Norway. She hosted large family
reunions in Leland for a number of years creating connections and memories for
a widely scattered family. She was also a prolific letter-writer and kept
contact with friends and family all around the world.
She was a thoughtful and
caring person who mentored many young people including friends, cousins, nephews,
nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces. She was generous to her Alma Mater as
well as many charities.
Alice was predeceased by
her parents; her brother, Richard; and sister-in-law, Anne.
She is survived by her
brother, George (Amy) Peterson; nephews and nieces, Nick (Kristine) Peterson,
Nancy (Patrick Müller) Peterson, Gail (Rick Howrey) Peterson, Rob (Chris
Laaksonen) Peterson and Jim (Corina) Greig; and many devoted great-nieces and
great-nephews.
A memorial service will be
announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers,
memorial donations may be made to Munson Hospice House (or your local hospice),
Operation Smile, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Suttons Bay or Disabled American
Veterans.
Please share memories with
Alice’s family at her online obituary at www.martinson.info.
Arrangements are with the
Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
Dear family,
ReplyDeleteImmanuel Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay sends their condolences. Alice always remembered our congregation and members. We will miss our friend. Blessings to you.
My name is Georgia Leventy and I am a living example of Alice Peterson's great heart and generosity. Alice was a lady in the full meaning of the word. In 1956, I was a 12 year-old girl in Greece, when my good fortune brought Alice Peterson to our family through the Foster Children's Plan. During the war and before I was born, my father was killed. Life for my widowed mother and her four children was painfully difficult. Alice sent us money, on a monthly basis, that brought food to our table and security to our life. There was enough money for me to further my education and also take private lessons to learn the English language. The name Alice to me means a gift from heaven. Whenever we mentioned her name at home, we felt admiration, love and gratitude that there were "young ladies" like her in America. Of course, my dream in life was to come to America. And, yes, it was Alice who sponsored me to travel and go to college. She met me at the airport in New York City, as I held my large Greek-American dictionary. That was "our sign" of recognizing me. I had also received a scholarship to study from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. I graduated and became a teacher of the Greek language and taught Greek as well Greek history to the Greek American children of the Greek communities. All through the years in this great country, I felt there was always a "lady" in Leland, Michigan who was there for me. I am happy that in one of our many trips together, my husband and I went to Leland and met with Alice and enjoyed a trip along with George and Amy. A lady like Alice can never be forgotten and I know she is in a special place in heaven as she is in my heart.
ReplyDelete