Kent A. Peterson ’63 *70

Kent, who had a long career in federal government, died Dec. 18, 2020, in Washington, D.C.

First in his class at Moline (Ill.) High School, he majored in politics at Princeton and belonged to Whig-Clio and the Woodrow Wilson Society. He then earned a master’s degree in political science at Yale. After teaching high school in Highland Park, Ill., and at Black Hawk College for a year each, Kent returned to Princeton for a master’s degree and, in 1970, a Ph.D. in American history. In 1971 he moved to Washington as an assistant to Sen. William V. Roth Jr. (R-Del.). For a year he taught for the University of Maryland’s European division on military bases in Germany, Italy, and Spain.

Kent began working in the executive branch, including as a consultant to the Office of Management and Budget, special assistant to the undersecretary of the Treasury, and deputy director of the Office of Revenue Sharing. He also worked at the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Customs Service. 

He retired in 2001 and continued his long-standing interests in reading, gardening, travel, classical and other music, and attending plays and lectures.

Kent is survived by niece Barrie Schoessel, nephew Scott Schoessel, aunt Carol Kroeger, and several cousins.