Richard Kent Peterson

Richard (Dick) Kent Peterson passed away on December 10th, 2024, after an illness at the age of 88. He was born in Lincoln, Kansas to Alfred O. and Muriel Joy Peterson. He lived his childhood years in Kansas and Colorado enjoying boy scouts, high school theater and football. After high school, Richard enlisted in the US Navy and studied electronics. He served on the submarine tender USS Howard W. Gilmore repairing submarine electronics. While stationed in Charleston, S.C. he met his wife of 67 years, Norma Jean. After his naval service, he attended the University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Richard continued his electrical engineering education in New Jersey completing a master’s degree before returning to Gainesville to work at Sperry Rand Corporation. When Sperry Rand closed, he changed paths and earned a PhD in Education at the University of Florida. He then embarked on a 28-year career at Santa Fe Community College where he was the director of Health-Related Programs and director of Technical and Special Programs. During that time, he was instrumental in the building of the School of Nursing complex. He was also dedicated to serving the community. Richard served on the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council and held various organizational positions including President of the local Kiwanis Club and Chairman of The Red Cross Disaster Committee and Boy Scouts of America Committee Member. His contributions earned multiple outstanding volunteer awards includes ones from the Rotary Club, the National Safety Council as well as from then Florida Governor Bob Graham. He will be remembered as having a quick smile and a warm handshake. His lifelong hobby was his ham radio. He contacted people all over the world as W4KFA, helped with communications during emergencies, and built his own radios. He also enjoyed fishing, camping, cheering for the Gators, model trains, and traveling to all fifty states, all while documenting life through photography and videos. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his sister Janet Woodhouse, and his son Robert Alan Peterson. He is survived by his children; Sandra Peterson Anderson (Dale), Richard K. Peterson (Deborah), Robert L. Peterson (Felicia); brother David Peterson; grandchildren Jennifer Anderson-Braddock (Sydney), John Peterson, and Charlie Peterson; great-grandson Nolan Braddock; and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to: Robert Alan Peterson Memorial Fund, [https://www.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/007201-robert-alan-peterson-memorial-fund/] or the Gainesville Amateur Radio Society [https://www.gars.club] Services will be held on Saturday January 11th, 2024, at Forest Meadows Funeral Home, 725 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL. The family will receive visitors at 1:00 PM followed by a memorial service at 2:00PM. The burial will follow the service at Forest Meadows Cemetery East, 3700 SE Hawthorne Road, Gainesville, FL.

Richard Kent Peterson

March 25, 1936 - December 10, 2024