Charles Peterson

Clement Charles Peterson, 80, a resident of Milford, Conn., died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007.

Chuck, son of Clement S. Peterson and Grace Spoeri Peterson, was born Oct. 28, 1927, in Chicago.

He attended schools in Evanston, Ill., and graduated with degrees in business and mathematics from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

After college he returned to the Navy and received his "wings" in 1951. He was a carrier pilot stationed for the major portion of his career with VC-4, a night fighter squadron.

Following his discharge from the Navy, Chuck and his wife, Carolyn Henderson Peterson, lived in Jackson where they will be remembered as active community members. Chuck served on the Jackson School Board, was a deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church, and a charter member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

He owned and operated a farm near Fruitland and was a partner with his father-in-law, J.R. Henderson, in Romar Farms, a registered Holstein dairy farm west of Jackson.

In 1958, he received a community award recognizing exceptional progress in agriculture and contributions to the community.

As a teacher of math and science, he taught at Thebes, Ill., Jefferson City, Mo., University City, Mo., and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The family later moved to Washington, D.C., when Chuck, on the staff of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, wrote and taught a science program titled "Science, a Process Approach."

In 1975, he was hired by Sikorsky Aircraft, Stratford, Conn., and retired in 1993 as vice president of Middle East International Programs.

In October he celebrated his 80th birthday with his family: Carolyn, his wife of 56 years; son, Robert Sinclair Peterson and wife Lydia and their son, Rob; daughters, Carol Jeannan Peterson of Bethesda, Md., Margaret Grace Peterson of Storrs, Conn.; son, Charles Peterson and wife Katherine of New Haven, Conn., and daughter, Cara, a student at the University of North Carolina; and James Taylor Peterson, a son who lives in Hinesburg, Vt.

A memorial service will be held Feb. 16 at Congregational Church in Milford.

Memorials may be made to Schooner Inc. Endowment Fund, 60 Water Street, New Haven, Conn., 06519, or Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, Conn., 06405.