Obituary of Richard Elsworth Peterson

Dr. Richard E. Peterson, 86 of Iowa City died Monday, October 8, 2007, at Legacy Gardens in Iowa City. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, October 21, 2007, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Deb Lind-Schmitz officiating. A time for refreshments and stories will be held immediately following these services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Dick’s memory to Alzheimer’s Association of East Central Iowa or to Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. In the spirit of learning, Dick gifted his earthly remains for research through the University of Iowa. Richard Elsworth Peterson, M.D. was born on August 27, 1921 in Seattle, Washington, the son of Arthur and Agnes Erickson Peterson. In 1955 he married Lois Faye Scott in Iowa City, Iowa. Dr. Peterson attended the University of Washington, graduating with a B.S. in 1942. He received his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois in 1946. He served as Captain in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army from 1946-1948. He completed his Internship in Washington, D.C., and subsequently residency in Internal Medicine at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Long Beach, California in 1951. He received special training in the clinical and biochemical use of radioisotopes from the same facility, completing this training in 1952. Dr. Peterson came to Iowa City in 1952 to join the newly opened Iowa City Veterans Administration Hospital. He then became a Clinical Associate at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1954. He became a Professor of Medicine and Radiology at the University of Iowa in 1966. He later also served as Chief of Nuclear Medicine at the Iowa City Veterans Administration Hospital. He enjoyed being a teacher and mentor. He supervised the Ph.D. and Masters theses of many scientists and participated in the training of numerous residents and fellows. He retired from clinical practice in 1991. Dr. Peterson was a founding member of the Board of Nuclear Medicine and served on the Board of this organization for two terms. He was an active member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, serving separate terms as each Treasurer and Secretary. Dr. Peterson was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City, serving as an Elder. He was also a member of the Building Committee for the present church. He was a dedicated father, helping to edit many an essay, and offering advice and guidance in life decisions. He enjoyed architecture and design, and was able to fulfill a dream of building a home in the country. He is survived by his wife, Lois; four daughters, Margaret (William) Swenson of Edina, Minnesota, Christina (Nils) Diaz of Tampa, Florida, Sarah Peterson (James Maertens) of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Karen Linnea Peterson (John Corman) of Bellevue, Washington; one son, Andrew Peterson (Mary Honma) of San Francisco, California. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren; two brothers, Harold (Bertha) of Metairie, Louisiana, and Donald (Marilyn) of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as brother, Arthur, and sister, Margaret. His family would like to thank the many caregivers for their loving support during his long illness.