Jon Peterson

Waterford — Lt. Cmdr. Jon David Peterson, USN LCDR, Retired, 80, of Waterford, passed away Feb. 28, 2020, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London. He was born Nov. 18, 1939, in Manila, Philippines, the son of Capt. George Edward Peterson and Alice (Abrahamson) Peterson.

Jon grew up in New London and graduated from New London High School in 1958. He attended Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y., and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in economics in 1962. Jon attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and then served as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1983. Jon’s service included time on submarines and destroyers, the USS Sperry (DD-697), the USS Requin (SS-481) and the USS Redfin (SS272). He was very patriotic and proud of his service.

Jon’s career also included many years in contracts and purchasing at Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, Pa., Electric Boat in Groton, and UNC Naval Products in Uncasville. He fulfilled his dream and started his own business in 1990, as the publisher of the advertising magazine Rental Guide. He owned the magazine until 2010, when he retired.

Jon had many interests and activities, including boating, fishing, woodworking, reading, discussing politics, maintaining his beautiful lawn, doing crossword puzzles, working on his boat and spending time with his family. He was most happy on the water on his sailboat, Sedna, where he spent many summers sailing to Block Island and Nantucket with his family. Jon and Daidy recently took a dream trip to Norway to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary and his ancestry.

Jon is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Eleanor “Daidy” Peterson; his daughter, from his first marriage to Barbara Peterson, Karen Rutledge and her husband, Michael Rutledge, of Haddam; his stepdaughter, Louise Russell, and her husband, James Russell, of Huntsville, Ala.; grandchildren: Michael, Andrew and Sean Rutledge; and step-grandchildren: Jasmine and Sydney Bond-Cavanagh and Jessie, Jamie, and James Russell. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, George Peterson; and by his stepdaughter, Heather Bond-Cavanagh.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home at 12 Ocean Ave., New London. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 N. Randolph St., Suite 225, Arlington, VA, 22203, or donate online at nmcrs.org. www.neilanfuneralhome.com.