Jeffrey Peterson

In this world there are men. Some only can be called and referred to as men. Some can be and earn the title of being called gentlemen. But there is an elite group that can be called a genteel Gentlemen’s gentlemen. Jeff Peterson was in that elite group. Everything about him, his persona, his character, his mannerism all defined and qualified him to be in this exclusive group. I will always remember and cherish the first time that I met Jeff. It was a thanksgiving dinner hosted by Beth, at her apartment on Livingston Street in New Haven, CT, which was not far from the campus of Yale University. I believe that it is where Jeff and Beth first met one another. In that first meeting, there were four things that immediately struck me about Jeff. His smile-always endearing; but slightly impish and devilish—it was sort of saying—if you are hungry-I know where they hid the cookie jar. His laugh was unique and short in staccato in nature. And when you heard it from another room—you knew that you missed out a great joke and guffaw. He was always quick to you engage you in conversation; catching up on what was new in your life or simply chatting about the mundane things-all with sincere and deep interest…but always respecting and never overstepping with intrusive questions. But, the most important thing that I saw in Jeff in that first meeting and have witnessed through out his life…is his love, zest, passion, and unending and boundless energy for what life can offer. Some people just allow the tide and current of life to take them along the way it wants to go and some are slightly more adventurous like surfers that allow the waves to push them to the shoreline. But Jeff was a hang glider, kite surfer, and wingsuit flyer always soaring higher and higher and further and further towards the horizon way above the tide and current of life…Jeff charted his own course. Today, I know that he is soaring high next the Lord’s angels in the heavens above us.