Howard Pettersen

MADISON - Howard Eugene Pettersen,................ Consummate teacher, volunteer, man of the water.
Howard was born on January 8, 1922, in Everett, Washington, the son of Alvin B. Pettersen and Edythe C. Brown.
He started sailing as a very young child in a sailboat made by his uncle. He took piano lessons, and learned gymnastics and swimming at the YMCA. In high school, he played the clarinet and was president of the National Honor Society and the Junior Red Cross.
He went to Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, majoring in Physics. He first met his wife Virginia when she was conducting his fraternity chorus. After graduation in 1943, he joined the faculty of Washington State University where he taught Physics, and was a member of the local volunteer fire department. Howard and Virginia were married on June 9, 1944.
Howard received his Master's degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He and Virginia then moved to Albion, Michigan where he taught Physics at Albion College. He received his PhD from Michigan State University.
Howard and Virginia spent almost every summer in Bay View, Michigan, where he taught Physics for Albion College's summer school. After the summer school was discontinued, Howard taught swimming and sailing there, and later became the Waterfront Director. He always had a sailboat, usually a Lightning, and was famous for walking up and down the dock, offering sailboat rides to anyone. He also taught sailing at the Red Cross Aquatic School for nine seasons. His involvement with the Red Cross extended to 45 years, having taught WSI, CPR, First Aid, and Sailing Instructor Training. He was proud of the fact that he was a life-long blood donor. He served on the Bay View Board of Trustees for nine years.
Howard retired from Albion College after teaching for 40 years. He then served with the Albion Ambulance Service as an EMT and later as Secretary and then President. He also was the lead instructor with Kids Cardiac Life Support, teaching all elementary school children in Albion basic steps in life saving as well as healthy living habits. He volunteered for many years at Albion Interfaith Ministries, an Albion charity.
He and Virginia moved to Oakwood Village University Woods campus in Madison, Wisconsin in December of 2006.
Howard is survived by Virginia, his wife of 68 years, their three daughters, Robin, Dina, and Nancy-Laurel, and four grandchildren, Mario, Rosa, Marcel, and Laura.
A celebration of Howard's life will be held at Resurrection Chapel at the Oakwood West University Woods Campus,6205 Mineral Point Rd, Madison, WI at 2:00 pm on Saturday March 2, 2013.