Richard “Rick” L. Petersen, 58, of Verona, passed away Sunday, March 25, 2012 surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday 9:45 AM from
Shook's Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove.
Funeral Mass 10:30 AM at Our Lady of the Lake RC Church in Verona.
Visiting Hours will be held on Tuesday from 5 to 9P.M. in the funeral home.
Please share a funny story or your favorite memory of Rick at www.shookscedargrove.com.

Rick was born in Brooklyn, NY, lived in Cedar Grove, NJ before settling in Verona. He attended St. Catherine of Siena School in Cedar Grove and graduated High School at Essex Catholic High School in Newark. Rick went on to St. Francis College in Pennsylvania and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Jersey City State University. In 1986, he received his Master’s Degree and Certificate of Supervision from Kean University. Rick was a special education teacher for Bloomfield School District for 33 years, retiring in June of 2010.

Rick was a member of the Bloomfield Education Association, the Career Advisory Council, the CEC (Council for Exceptional Children), and he was a coach for the Special Olympics. He was also a founding member of the Sunset Classic Race in Bloomfield and was a team leader for V.E.S.T. in Bloomfield.

During his dedicated career as a teacher, Rick received many awards. He was the recipient of the prestigious Princeton Prize for Secondary Education in 1996, the Oakeside Cultural Society Person of the Year Award in 2009 and the Initial Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award.

Among his many accomplishments his greatest was his daughters, Meghan and Carly. They were the whole world to him and his passing will leave a hole in their hearts.

Beloved husband of 30 years to Christie L. (Watkins) Petersen.
Devoted father of Carly Petersen and Meghan Pasqualichio and her husband Christopher.
Loving brother of Bill Petersen and Barbara Dunn and her husband Bob.
Cherished uncle and godfather of Casey Dunn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Bloomfield V.E.S.T. Program, 160 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.