Henry Oscar Peterson III died on October 16, 2024 in Bryn Mawr, PA, at age 79.

Known to his family and friends as Terry, Pete, or Bear, he was born in Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA, on May 21, 1945, the eldest son of H.O. Peterson, Jr. and Alma Prager Peterson.  He graduated from Acme-Delco High School (NC) where he was valedictorian of his senior class, played football, basketball, and baseball, and earned a 4-year scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry (1967) and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Physical Sciences (1971) from UNC-CH.

Terry/Pete/Bear taught chemistry and physics in the public schools of New Hanover County, NC (Roland-Grise Junior High School and Hoggard High School) from 1967-1977, at Nyssa High School in Nyssa, Oregon from 1977-1981, and in the Lower Merion School District (PA) at Harriton High School in Rosemont, PA, and at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, PA from 1981 to 2008, when he retired from his 41-year teaching career.  He was an active member of the National Education Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association, serving as a PSEA delegate and representative.

Terry/Pete/Bear touched thousands of lives over the course of his life and career. He epitomized a kid of the Fifties, born to post-WWII optimism, opportunity, and confidence. He excelled in athletics, academics, and that seemingly impossible task of embodying adults' standards and aspirations for accomplishment, citizenship, and apple-cheeked wholesomeness—all sports, highest grades, president leader of most classes and organizations, winning scholarships, fellowships, and responsible summer jobs. He was known and cherished for his friendly nature, irreverent sense of humor, and, as his teaching career blossomed, questionable classroom chemistry experiments. He greatly valued learning and inspired growth in others not just through teaching but as a high school cross country coach and baseball assistant coach. A select set of students will also fondly remember his Saturday morning organic chemistry classes.

Outside of school, Terry/Pete/Bear was a fixture in his children's lives. He was a consistent presence at Upper Merion swim meets, water polo matches, concerts, and theater productions. He was especially fond of theater, and was one of the first and longest-term supporters and subscribers of Theatre Horizon in Norristown, PA. He also enjoyed golfing with his teacher friends, watching Phillies baseball, and rooting for his Carolina Tar Heels.

Terry/Pete/Bear is predeceased by his parents, his son Seth Alan Peterson, his brother Alan Dale Peterson, his nephew Ian Peterson-Nedry, and his cousins David L. Peterson, Donna L. Peterson, and Judson H. Croom, Jr. He is survived by his daughter Rachel Barr Peterson of Ambler, PA, his brothers Harry Peterson-Nedry of Portland, OR and R. Glen Peterson of Leland, NC, his niece Wynne Peterson-Nedry (Rob Fair) of Portland, OR, his nephews Stephen R. Peterson (Cheryl) of Beaverton, OR, R. Johnsey (Jack) Peterson (Laura Isabel) of Apex, NC, and Henry Oscar (Pete) Peterson IV of Greenville, NC, his cousins Evelyn E. Hall of Wrightsville Beach, NC, Lynda S. Walker of Leland, NC, Monica C. Watson of Leland, NC, Paula J. Peterson of Leland, NC, Dale Wood Peterson of Chesapeake, VA, and Clarice L. Willoughby (John) of Dunn, NC, and his great-nieces and great-nephews. We make special note of his nurse care manager of many years, Janice Duffin.

Celebration of the Life of Terry/Pete/Bear was held in North Carolina on Friday, November 29, 2024 at 10:00am during the Peterson Family Reunion at Goshen Fellowship Church, 4124 Mount Misery Road NE, Leland, NC. An open-house Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025 from 2-5 pm at Gypsy Blu, 34 E. Butler Ave, Ambler, PA

Any contributions in Terry/Pete/Bear's memory may be made to the Seth Alan Peterson Memorial Scholarship Fund (Seth's Fund) , 311 Sixth Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030 or at sethsfund.org.