Ronald Peterson Made Himself At Home At Seattle University

Ronald A. Peterson found a home for his talents and his heart as a professor and administrator over four decades at Seattle University.

Trained in business law, yet gifted at helping students choose the right courses and careers, he was an early proponent of an SU law school, which became a reality in 1994 when the Jesuit institution bought the University of Puget Sound Law School.

He so loved SU that he gave his children's higher education over to it: Seven of his children hold SU degrees, and son Jim Peterson of Seattle is vice president of SU's Alumni Board of Governors.

"My dad was an open person and had an open heart," said Jim Peterson. "He attracted a lot of people to him for that, especially students seeking advice and counsel. He would share so much of himself."

Mr. Peterson died at his Seattle home Wednesday from the effects of heart disease, Parkinson's disease and diabetes. He was 77.

"Seattle U was kind of family," said his son Jack Peterson of Tacoma. "It was a spiritual center for him. Both the Jesuits and the lay people he worked with were very important to his personal and spiritual growth."

Born in Valley, Neb., Mr. Peterson earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska and his law degree at Creighton Law School, a Jesuit facility in Omaha. He moved to Seattle in 1949 and went to work setting up SU's alumni office. Mr. Peterson formed the first admissions office and directed it until 1973. He also taught law courses before he retired in 1984.

In the late 1960s he worked with attorney Fredric Tausend on a proposal to form a law school at SU.

"We were thinking about the need for another law school in Seattle because we felt the UW wasn't filling certain needs in the community," Tausend said. "More women were thinking about law, and there was a need for night classes.

"It turned out that Seattle U. needed to give attention to finances and other problems, so the proposal was dropped at that time. But the law school that exists now is the kind he and I had envisioned in many ways."

Mr. Peterson also helped revive the Thomas More Society (named for a lawyer-saint) here.

"My dad was really a very simple man," Jack Peterson said. "He loved his family and loved to travel. But you knew where he stood. He could be impatient and angry, or happy and appreciative. People liked the humanness because you could connect with him. That was something I admired."

Other survivors include his wife of 55 years, Patty Peterson of Seattle; his children Ron Peterson, Kathe Peterson, Tom Peterson, Mary Peterson and Joe Peterson, all of Seattle, and Patrick Peterson, Kingston; his sister, Connie Elston, Red Bluff, Calif., and brother, Rich Peterson, Seattle; and 20 grandchildren.

Services are at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Church, 732 18th Ave. E., Seattle.

Remembrances may go to School of Law c/o Seattle University, 900 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122 .

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is: cbee-new@seatimes.com