Gilbert Val Peterson ’64

Surrounded by family, Gil died of complications of prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease May 26, 2024, in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Gil grew up in Verona, N.J., graduating from Montclair High School as class president and captain of the football and baseball teams. At Princeton, he graduated with honors in chemical engineering, joining Cannon Club and receiving two varsity letters in 150-pound football.

Following Princeton, he earned an MBA at Stanford in 1966. Gil then returned to the East Coast, joining Hewlett-Packard’s analytical instrument division. Rising through the executive ranks at HP, Perkin-Elmer, and Varian brought him back to Northern California. Inspired by his battles against cancer, he also served as an angel investor and helped startup companies bring health-care innovations to market.

Gil married his wife, Wendy, from Mills College, in 1967. They had three children and six grandchildren, with whom he skied, camped, and boated, sharing his love of the outdoors, snow, and watersports. With a small group of Stanford buddies, Gil formed the “Super Seniors Ski Group,” with whom he skied Palisades Tahoe (Squaw Valley) into his 80s. He also spearheaded regular Zoom calls with both high school and Princeton classmates.

Gil was a person of optimism, courage, and character. To Wendy, their children (Jamie Peterson ’93, Caitlin Kortlang ’96, and Megan Williams) and family, the class offers its deepest sympathy.