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December 2, 2019
Capt. Alfred D. Petersen
Northshore Composite Squadron
Washington Wing
MSgt. Alfred D. Petersen, born March 21, 1936 in East Orange, NJ, passed away peacefully on November 1, 2019 at the age of 83 at his home in Bothell, WA, after an 18-year battle with Hairy Cell Leukemia Variant (IGHV4-34+). At 17, Al joined the US Air Force, faithfully serving his country for 26 years as a photographer. He is a veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam Conflict. After retirement, he worked 5 years as an industrial photographer for Sundstrand, receiving several awards.
Al loved flying, sharing that with others as an FAA Certified Flight Instructor and by giving rides in his Cessna 150 (N63008). As a senior member of the Civil Air Patrol with the rank of Captain, he volunteered at national encampments and soloed many cadets. He was a Baja Bush Pilot and taught flying at Clark Air Base in the Philippines.
As a retiree, Al was an avid shoe-string traveler, visiting Asia, South America and Europe numerous times. He summited Mt. Fuji and Mt. St. Helens twice, challenging Mt. Kinabalu once. He and his wife of 64 years, Barbara Petersen (ne;e Mendoza), shared their first kiss at a Halloween party. This Halloween, 70 years later, they repeated that kiss.
Al was incredibly proud of his grandchildren and loved planning adventures for them to experience, including world travels and many biking, skiing, and ocean trips. Al was a member of the Spokane Masonic Lodge (over 50 years) and the mini-bike patrol in the Nile Shrine.
Al is survived by his wife, "Barbo the Clown", 2 daughters (Pam and Karen), 6 grandchildren (Kristen, Niko, Annette, Aarika, Maya, and Lydia), and 7 great-grandchildren (Mariah, Emily, Elias, Natalie, Kelsea, Cameron, and Asher).
Al will be remembered as an active, energetic, and creative man, a fighter who did his own cancer research, a hard worker, a Snoopy fan, a lover of Sunday morning donuts and so much more.
Our eternal gratitude to Drs. Pamela Becker, Robert Kreitman, Sandra Diangi, Vincent Picozzi and RNs Danielle Sutherlin, Sunny So, and Lisa Marie Brems.