John B. Peterson ’79

John B. Peterson ’79 died June 10 at Tatnuck Park in Worcester, Massachusetts, after a several-year struggle with cancer. Born on December 16, 1955, in Bremerhaven, Germany, where his family was stationed during his father’s Navy service, Jack and his family relocated to Worcester in 1958. Jack attended high school at Saint Marks School in Southborough, Massachusetts, and began a lifelong interest in computers and computer programming. He roomed freshman year at Dartmouth with high-school friend Michael Wilkinson in 6 Fayerweather. He joined Sigma Theta Epsilon, went on the language study abroad program to France, and served as a projectionist for the Dartmouth Film Society, finding great satisfaction maintaining and viewing classic films. He majored in mathematics, with particular interest in Kiewit and computer programming. Wilkinson recalls that Jack’s “simple kindness, generosity of his time, and gentle encouragement says so much about who he was.” After Dartmouth Jack joined Burlington Stores Inc., which had set up a computer center in nearby Lebanon, New Hampshire, to take advantage of newly minted Dartmouth grads with computer skills. Jack’s association with Burlington lasted 36 years, the last four years working from home after the office relocated to New Jersey. In addition to his outdoor activities of skiing, golf, and biking, Jack enjoyed the challenge of raising Japanese bonsai plants, which require demanding care. Jack is survived by his father, John ’53; sister Sandra ’86; brother Alan; sister-in-law Lori; and nieces and nephews. Jack will be greatly missed.