Jeff Peterson’s obituary, published Tuesday, told us what Jeff did during his life. But the obituary didn’t say what kind of man he was.
Jeff liked to laugh and make others laugh. One time, he walked past my office when a work day had stretched into evening. “I don’t know if you’ve heard,” he said with a smile, “but we aren’t paid by the hour.”
His colleagues in the School of Business can speak to the quality of his academic and scholarly work, yet Jeff’s intelligence could be seen elsewhere. On the Faculty Compensation Committee, he could clearly explain difficult financial topics, and he put things into context with ease. Jeff had the most valued opinions in the room.
While expressing those opinions, he respected everyone else at the table. On the Faculty Senate, he was reasoned and non-judgmental. When he spoke, people listened.
He was loyal to his friends. I once heard someone disparage an administrator who had left the university.
“Stop,” Jeff said forcefully. “He’s a friend of mine.” His friend’s critic backed off.
He also was loyal to the School of Business. I wondered if it was hard for him to ask potential donors for major gifts to build the new School of Business building. He replied, “It’s easy to ask for money for something you believe in.”
His record of service was exemplary, but his loyalty to the university could be seen in other ways. He and I were talking once about disgruntled faculty. “You know,” Jeff said, “I don’t see a fence around this place keeping people from leaving.”
The major shortcoming of his obituary was that it did not emphasize his relationship with the most important person in his life: his wife, Laura. Frequently, I’d ask him to go to lunch, but he almost always had scheduled a lunch date with her. When I would see him away from the university, Laura always was with him. They were perfect for each other. He knew it and was grateful.
As we in the university community mourn Jeff’s passing, we pray that God has taken him and welcomes him, even as we wipe away our tears at the loss of our colleague and friend.
– Patrick Vecchio
Lecturer, Journalism and mass communication
