Jeffrey Pedersen, Gas-Station Collector, Dies

Jeffrey A. Pedersen rarely ran out of gas when extolling the virtues of old service stations or his beloved "petroliana."

In a 10,000-square-foot Capitol Hill loft filled with 18,000 gas-station artifacts, he entertained visitors to his General Petroleum Museum with talks on gas fact and fiction.

His effort is thought to represent the largest private collection of gas-station memorabilia or "petroliana" in the United States.

Also a lover of fine food, which his wife Susan Pedersen catered, he satisfied visitors gastronomically at parties for nonprofit groups at the museum, and at the Museum Cafe, which holds the collectible overflow.

"I wouldn't say it was collecting, so much as I just quit throwing it away," Mr. Pedersen told a reporter of his collection.

Mr. Pedersen, of Seattle and Port Townsend, died Thursday (Jan. 7) of cancer. He was 57.

Born and reared in Port Townsend, Mr. Pedersen bought his father's service station before serving two tours with the Navy in Vietnam. He returned to finish his bachelor's degree at Seattle University and founded what became the $180 million-a-year Pedersen Oil in Tacoma.

In the early 1980s, after the death of his first wife, Patricia Pedersen, he sold the business.

In 1987 he combined his interest in petroleum with his new wife's love of catering. They leased a building at 1526 Bellevue Ave. and turned it into a museum with an apartment.

Former highway advertising signs line the walls.

Service-station uniforms, oil cans and trinkets fill display cases. A truck serves as a catering table.

The museum and cafe remain open. The museum has no public hours, but visitors may call for an appointment or simply knock loudly.

Also surviving are his children Jennifer Pedersen of Seattle and Jeffrey Pedersen, Los Angeles; his mother, Betty Pedersen, and sister, Karen Pedersen, both of Port Townsend; and his stepchildren, David and Bill Rucker, both of Seattle; and Michael Rucker, Dan Rucker and Mary Guyer, all of Everett.

Services have been held. Remembrances may go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, 400 E. Pine St., Seattle, WA 98122; or to the American Cancer Society, 2120 First Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109..

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is: cbeers@seattletimes.com