Calaveras Publishing Company

Mokelumne Hill, CA — One small step at a time

John R Peterson

John R. Peterson of Mokelumne Hill, surrounded by his loving family, died Thursday, July 10, 2008 at Mark Twain Hospital in San Andreas. He was 87.

John R Peterson

John R Peterson

Born March 10, 1921 in Douglas, Wyoming, Mr. Peterson was the editor and publisher of the Calaveras Prospect, Weekly-Citizen & Chronicle and the Calaveras Californian from October 1961 to January 1998. Under his leadership, the newspapers won several awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association, and a special award from the California School Boards Association for service to education.

He had served as a trustee for Calaveras Unified School District and the County Board of Education, president of the Mokelumne Hill Fire Commission, director of Calaveras County Water District, and a member of LAFCO, the County Committee on School District Reorganization, and the County Democratic Central Committee. He had been a grand marshal of the Mokelumne Hill 4th of July parade. One of his fondest memories was of reading his prize-winning poem at the dedication of the Calaveras County Main Library.

His hobbies were sports, the theater, and crossword puzzles. He coached the Mokelumne Hill Little League and directed community theater in Los Angeles, Calaveras, and Shasta Counties. He had been a member of the Commonwealth Club, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, and the Southern California Industrial Editors Association.

Mr. Peterson was graduated from St. Patrick’s Seminary & University in Menlo Park and received a master’s degree in theater from UCLA. He began his newspaper career at the Daily Bruin at UCLA, where he met his wife, Eleanor; they were married in 1949. He taught school in Salinas and Redding, and worked for the Shasta County welfare department and Shell Oil Company in Los Angeles before buying Calaveras Publishing Company.

Mr. Peterson leaves his wife Eleanor; his children, Eric (Anita Teer) of Mokelumne Hill, Lise (Donald Peattie) of Aptos, Noel (Kim) of Tracy, John William (In Ja Halcomb) of Elk Grove, David of Mokelumne Hill, and Edward (Jennifer) of Las Vegas; his grandchildren, Anne (Ammon Torrence) of Cambridge, England, and John William of San Francisco; and his step-grandchildren, Lindsey and Jack Smith of Tracy, Katie and Christopher Wilson of Las Vegas, and Steven and Shella Lucas of Missouri; his sister Nancy (Mrs. Edward L. McCarthy) of Sacramento, his brother Michael of Tacoma, and his half-sister, Betsy Peterson of Galt.

San Andreas Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. The family has held private services. Memorial contributions may be made to Mark Twain Hospital Foundation, 768 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas, CA 95249; Calaveras Senior Center, 956 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas; or Mokelumne Hill Fire Department, PO Box 141, Mokelumne Hill, CA 95245.

– 30 –

 
Ed Peterson’s Blog
Eric Peterson’s Site

Prior posts

Neil Hjelmervik - July 31, 2008 at 05:05:05pm: I remember John well. He was honest with humor and yet straight to the point. I especially remember when I foolishly tried to put on a “talent show” with Pete Silva and the whole thing was a disaster. He wrote a fairly scathing article that he chose to not publish, but sent to me privately instead. He will be missed. Neil

Daniel Ravlin McCarthy - July 20, 2008 at 01:03:14pm: I have many great memories of the Peterson Clan; Uncle John, Aunt Ellie and their brood contributing to many an adventure. Uncle John was perhaps the most quiet and gentle, yet also a strong influence. And he has the looks and traits of his father before him, and all his siblings. His passing is a reminder to me to hold my family memories even closer. Love to Ellie and the Clan.

Susan Endsley - July 18, 2008 at 10:35:04pm: Heartfelt condolences. I trust John and Dan are happily exchanging long stories, as in days of yore! hugs, sue

Dave Spitzer - July 17, 2008 at 11:48:37am: I had the pleasure of serving with John on the Mokelumne Hill FPD board. He was surely the most knowledgable and probably the brightest member of that board, and we relied on him to provide insider information and to put issues in perspective for us. I will remember with affection his sense of humor and sharp wit, and I will miss him greatly.

Bill Trimingham - July 15, 2008 at 12:10:05pm: Eleanor - My sincere condolences. John had a long and productive life and will not soon be forgotten. Sincerely, Bill

Mike Taylor - July 15, 2008 at 11:06:20am: A guardian of the rights of the press to stir things up, I felt John always knew he was gripping a thorny issue with aplomb and a grin, easily skewering those who generally had the pike coming. I, too, can hear his voice, and anxiously await the next comical anecdote! He’s setting up that great editorial column right now…

Sloane - July 15, 2008 at 08:31:27am: Ah, this hurts. :( Working for John and Eleanor taught me about so many things - typesetting, graphics, newspapering … more than anything I learned about how the world worked, and how I might find my place in it. Thank you, John. Thank you, Ellie.

Shawn Graham - July 15, 2008 at 08:08:38am: One of the best sources of relevant and interesting information I have ever know. He used to tell me the greatest stories about Howard Hughes, Al Capone and others. I can still hear his voice. My condolences to his family all who new him.

Eric Strayer - July 15, 2008 at 05:56:05am: My condolences.

Merita Callaway - July 14, 2008 at 10:01:33pm: He made sure board information was grammatically correct - He would comment on the BofS’s manners, Brown Act, etc. I was always on my toes with John - And I loved to visit him at his office on Main Street in Angels

Admin