Arvid John Peterson Jr.

Arvid John (AJ) Peterson, Jr. was born in Pierson, Florida November 2, 1930.  He was the only child of Arvid John Peterson and Bailey Wilhelmina Cochran.  AJ excelled in academics as well as athletics playing varsity basketball for Pierson high school.  AJ earned a scholarship to play basketball at Stetson University where he played as forward.  He performed well in academics, earning a bachelor of science degree.  Perhaps his best college achievement was meeting Isabelle Elizabeth Moss who would become his wife, for 61 years until her passing in 2015.

After Stetson, AJ directly entered the first medical school class at University of Miami and graduated June 11, 1956.  He and Isabelle then moved to Jacksonville, Florida where AJ not only completed an internship in Internal Medicine but also welcomed the birth of their first son, Arvid John (Pete) Peterson.  Upon graduation a year later, AJ and family moved to Paris Island, South Carolina where he served in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in the medical division.  It was during these next two years AJ and Isabelle welcomed the birth of their second son Joseph Moss (Joe) Peterson.  AJ and Isabelle often spoke of their time at Paris Island as some of the best days of their lives. 

AJ and Isabelle then moved their young family to Boca Raton, Florida in 1959 where he started a private medical practice becoming one of the first physicians to locate in Boca Raton, a small resort community.  It was in those early years, his family grew as they welcomed the birth of their daughter Kristen Peterson followed shortly by their third son Scott William Peterson.  His family complete, AJ worked diligently to improve the lives of those around him and in the city of Boca Raton.  His practice flourished, making house calls and being available at all hours for those in need.  He was visionary in several needs for a growing Boca Raton; leading for the establishment and funding of the Boca Raton Community Hospital, and serving on a committee of three physicians from Boca Raton Community Hospital advocating for an Advanced Life Support Medical System – Emergency Mobile Unit concept which was approved by the city of Boca Raton.

In his personal life, AJ and Isabelle helped found and were charter members of Advent Lutheran Church, keeping God central in their lives.  He was the last living charter member.  AJ enjoyed playing golf at the Boca Raton Resort and Club and countless courses around the world (his favorite tournament was The Masters, where he has been a patron since the 1950’s), playing tennis, basketball, fishing, sailing and boating along the east coast of Florida and the Bahamas.  He loved the Florida Keys and Key Colony Beach spending countless summers diving, fishing, and exploring with his family and friends.  He loved learning and reading, Dan Jenkins novels always made him laugh out loud.  AJ was an avid supporter of the University of Miami Hurricanes football team, raising money for the “U” and often travelling on the team plane to away games.  He is often remembered for his kindness to others, wonderful sense of humor and his midnight Christmas parties.

He was most proud of his family and is survived by; Arvid John Peterson, III, Esq. (Lorraine Horchler) Arvid Peterson IV (Amanda Zook), Eric Peterson (Lauren Wallace) Robert Peterson, Kari Peterson; Joseph Moss Peterson (Leigh Wingard) Joseph “Josh” Peterson (Hannah), Timothy Peterson (Hannah), Bonnie Ellen Peterson; Kristen Peterson (Joseph Maus, Sr.) Joseph Maus Jr., Riley Maus, Pate Maus; Scott William Peterson, MD.

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