Laurence Bernard Peterson

Laurence Bernard “Larry” Peterson, age 75, passed away on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 from liver cancer. 

        Larry was born in Holland, MI before moving to Oak Lawn, IL where he spent most of his childhood and adolescence. Larry earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from Hope College before earning his PhD in immunology from Marquette University. After graduating, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, MO before becoming an Assistant Professor in Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology at Cleveland VA Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, in Cleveland, OH. Larry then moved to New Jersey to begin working for Merck. He held a number of positions, culminating with his position as a Distinguished Senior Investigator, Immunology and Cardiovascular Diseases. He worked on fifteen different compounds approved for safety assessment and clinical development. 

          Larry was most passionate about his work on Type I Diabetes which brought him to Cambridge University for three years as a Senior Scientist in the Department of Medical Genetics and then to Basel, Switzerland for a year working for Hoffmann-La Roche. After his fulfilling career, he retired in Seattle, WA where he enjoyed his view of Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, and Elliott Bay. Larry loved spending time with his two children, hiking, fishing, riding his motorcycles, and cooking. 

        He loved visiting National Parks, of which Yellowstone and Glacier were favorites. He was a consummate foodie and loved scouring Zagat and newspapers for the best restaurants. He was a beloved dog parent to Molly and then Kaylie. He is predeceased by his parents, Donald and Arlene. His life will be remembered by: his children, Annie and Keith Peterson; his brother, Mick, sister-in-law, Wendy, their children Christy, Scott, and Katie; his brother, Tim, sister-in-law, Julie, their children, Sarah, Ryan, Phil, Joslin, and Emily; his aunt, Karen; his cousin, Barry, cousin-in-law, Sherri; and his beloved grand-dog, Emmie. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2026 from 11-1 at Gray & Pescitelli Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 318 East Broad St. in Westfield, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Larry’s name to the Sierra Club.