Stanley Darnell Peterson

A Life Well Lived 
Stanley D. Peterson 

Stanley Darnell Peterson, age 67, passed away on September 8th, 2019. Born in Portland, Oregon on June 15th, 1952, he was the third of six children (Al, Lottie, Gwen, Jerry and Derrick) born to George and Essie Peterson. His legacy lives on through his beloved wife, Pam and his children, Alfonso, Lynndon, Michael, and Darnell Peterson. He also has 4 wonderful grandchildren. 

Stanley attended Grace Collins Community Center, Boise Elliot Elementary, Cleveland High School and Linfield College. While attending Cleveland High School, he exceled in academics, football, track and field, wrestling, theater and was a drum major for the marching band. He became Cleveland High's first black student body president. He also received the prestigious American Presidential Scholar Award, which was granted only to the top students in the nation. He graduated with the class of 1970. 

A graduate of Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, Stanley participated in many campus activities, including student government, theater and was a featured running back for the football team. Go Wildcats! The hallmark of Stan's heart was reaching out to others, which is exemplified by the programs he organized and led while at Linfield College and was echoed throughout his life, which included the Reach Back Mentorship program and At -Risk Youth Intervention program. He graduated with a dual major in Business Administration and Psychology.
After college, Stanley served active duty in the Coast Guard followed by eight years as a reservist. He began his professional career working in various sales & marketing positions with businesses such as Boise Cascade, Memorex, Qume, and Portland Community College. After his corporate career he transitioned to not-for-profit community based organizations, including Branch Executive Director of the YMCA/Columbia-Willamette; Development Manager with the workforce Development Board and Program Director at the NE Coalition of Neighborhoods. A little unknown fact is that Millicent Hearst, wife of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst was a friend and mentor. 

Throughout his life, Stan was a devoted Christian and active in the church. He has been a member at Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church, New Hope Missionary, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon, as well as, First Union Baptist in San Francisco. During his tenure at St. Paul, he served as Deacon, Gospel Choir Director and Minister of Music. 
He had a passion to sing and had an affinity for gospel music that was ignited and cultivated under Lorene Wilder at New Hope Baptist Church. He was very proud of his role in the choir for the annual holiday production of Gospel Christmas Concert featuring the Oregon Symphony. For several years, Stan sang back-up, along with his brother Derrick and longtime friend, Amber Cobb for Julianne Johnson and the Swingline Cubs band. 

Community service was a passion of his, as evident by his extensive work with the Grace Collins Community Center that is dedicated to working with inner city youth. In his later years, he helped organize and served on the Grace Collins Board of Directors that continues to carry on the mission of Ms. Evelyn Collins. 

He was a God fearing, well-traveled and dynamic man with a flair for style. His impact and reach will continue to be felt well into the future.

 
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Pamela; his children and their spouses Alfonso, Lynndon, Michael and Darnell; four grandchildren; his siblings and their spouses Al, Lottie,Gwen, Derrick and Jerry; his nephews and many friends, colleagues and associates. 

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