ANN MARIE PETERSON-SASLAW
September 11, 1952 - November 28, 2020
Ann Marie Peterson-Saslaw passed away on November 28, 2020 at age 68 at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield as critically low blood pressure and organ failures took her life. Ann was born on September 11, 1952 in Kemmerer, Wyoming to Kendall and Violet Peterson. Kendall had made a bold step to walk out of the underground coal mines and pursue a career in education that included becoming an elementary school principal. This inspired Ann to earn a Master of Science Degree in Communicative Disorders at Utah State University. Ann subsequently chose a career as a speech-language pathologist in the public schools and began working in regular education helping young students tackle those pesky "S"s, "L"s and "R"s. Ann married Larry Saslaw in Rawlins, Wyoming in 1985 as the couple headed to Bakersfield to begin their 35-year marriage. Ann joined the Kern County Superintendent of Schools shortly after arriving in town. She started her 27 year career with the KCSOS in the Severe Disorders of Language, Special Day Class program where she worked with preschool children in a classroom setting. During this time she earned an Administrative Credential at California State University, Bakersfield which allowed her to serve as a Program Coordinator and then for six years as the Principal at the Claude W. Richardson Child Development Center. Later in her career she was a member of the preschool assessment team where she enjoyed being "down on the ground with the kidos" during assessment testing. She found it rewarding to help special education children and their families obtain an appropriate public education that would serve them throughout their lives. Ann is survived by her husband, Larry Saslaw, son, Joel Saslaw of Denver, Colorado, and sister, Kathleen Mason of Ogden Utah.
She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Patricia. Ann enjoyed keeping up with her extended family members who were spread out between Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Montana. Her happy place was to travel to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in the fall when the crowds thinned, fall colors painted the mountains, and the Park Lodges were warm and cozy. Ann had a deep love for the several dogs, cats, turtles, and tortoises that graced her home.
Ann will be laid to rest near her parents and other family members at Evergreen Memorial Park in Ogden, Utah.
A graveside service will be held on December 16, 2020 at 2:00 pm, led by Rabbi Jonathan Klein of Temple Beth El, Bakersfield. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Kern Autism Network (kernautism.org, Donate Now!), FeedingAmerica.org, or humanesociety.org.