E. Pete Peterson passed away in a hospice at Homosassa, Florida on May 29, 2010 due to heart failure. He was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, on November 23, 1928. He grew up around horses and working at area dude ranches. Meanwhile he studied art and became a commercial artist. When the famous Madison Square Garden rodeo came to New York City the dude ranch entered him in the bull riding. It was good publicity for the ranch because every time he rode the dude ranch got their name mentioned. He ‘got the rodeo bug’ and continued to ride bulls and bareback horses. When a rodeo clown got killed during a 1947 Canadian rodeo Pete stepped in and finished clowning the rodeo. This started a bullfighting and comedy career in the rodeo arena that would last for 38 years. He fashioned his clown costume after Buffalo Bill and wore a buckskin costume. His trick mule, Snuffy, also became well known. Pete was also hired by retailers in a town with an up-coming rodeo to paint western scenes on their front windows using his artistic talents. This included Madison Square Garden area of New York City for ten years. The combination of artist/rodeo clown served him well and he was hired for rodeos across the country. In 1952 he married Mary, a professional adagio dancer who retired and joined the White Horse Revue and trick rode until she joined Pete and Ike Tacker in the barrel. Mary passed away in 2003. Ocala, Florida, was their home where he opened a commercial sign business, Pete Peterson & Son Signs. When he retired from business they moved to Homosassa, Florida, and lived on the water. He is survived by daughter, Candee Martin and friend, Ted Gui of Ocklawaha, FL; son, Pete Peterson, wife Mary, of Ocala, FL; daughter, Bonnie Belle Carter and husband, Paul, of Ocala, FL; son, Ed and wife, Pam Weiss of Anaheim, CA; son-in-law, Wally Martin of Ocala; and grandchildren, Michael Lentz, Autumn Martin, Chris Peterson, Victoria and James Carter, Kim, Missy and Casandra Weiss. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. He will be cremated and his ashes will be scattered in places of importance to Pete. |
