FALL ISSUE 4-December 8,2016

Dec. 8, 2016
defenderFEATURES 8
Remembering Will Peterson:
“His curiosity was contagious... His energy was infectious.”
By Maddy Linden
Visual Editor
Will Peterson, a senior at St. Michael’s
College who loved travel and
dreamt of one day becoming an airline
pilot died on Dec. 1 from an epileptic
seizure. Originally from Essex Junction,
Vt., Peterson, 23, was a transfer student
from the University of North Dakota
and a business major at St. Michael’s
College.
“Our entire department is saddened
by Will’s passing,” said Karen Popovich,
chair of the business administration
department, in an email to the Defender.
“Will was a light in my day. He was
dedicated to his learning and he loved
his work at the airport. His curiosity was
contagious and I will miss him dearly.”
Peterson held a position as a “red
coat,” as one of the heads in customer
service with Delta Airlines at the Burlington
Airport and was devoted the
work. He worked 20-22 hours a week,
sometimes waking up at 4 or 5 a.m. to
do customer service at the counter and at
the gate. He also attended St. Michael’s
full-time, taking courses in business. According
to Will Peterson’s father, James,
Will struggled with his epilepsy diagnosis
particularly because he dreamt of becoming
a pilot and loved aviation.
Peterson was fortunate enough to go
to Amsterdam last summer, and even
took a cruise by himself, and one time
brought his dad to London and his most
recent trip was to Dublin. It helped
working for Delta because he was able to
get free flights, “He just loved the adventure
of traveling,” said Kathleen Peterson,
Will’s mother in a phone interview,
“he never complained about how long
the car ride was, he just loved seeing new
places.”
One of Peterson’s college friends,
Zack Maroon, ‘18, described Will as
“outgoing and bubbly.” When Maroon
said that when he first came to St.
Michael’s, he struggled to find his place
that first semester. He met Will in his
Modern Europe history class. “Will, he
kind of showed me what the people at
Saint Mike’s are like, and that there are
a lot of people like that.” Both Peterson
and Maroon were business majors,
and would run into each other when
professor Popovich had students over
for dinner. “He was incredibly friendly,
generous, and probably most of all very
witty and funny. He was always making
jokes and a really great person who was
so easy to get along with and easy to have
great conversations with.”
“He was just a joy” said James Peterson,
Will’s father, in a phone interview
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN KELLEY
Justin Pagan, Will Peterson, Rashleigh Morgan, Alanna Moriarty share a laugh during a
service learning trip in Georgetown, Guyana.
with the Defender, adding that his son
loved to travel. In his trip to Guyana he
learned a lot about himself, and how he
had the strength to deal with different
cultures according to Kathleen. “His
energy was infectious but not overbearing.
He was always the first one up every
morning and made the coffee.” said
Lauren Kelley, a team member that spent
a week and a half with Will in Guyana.
“Will was extremely friendly and warm.
He will be missed by a lot of people.”
“We’ve been telling all the parents
that we’ve been seeing at the wake
yesterday to hug their children, because
they are so very important” said James
Peterson. “He will be sorely missed.”
Popovich said that, “ Above all, I
think Will taught me to pause and be
present in the moment and to let the
people around you know that you care.”
Above: Peterson worked in customer service for Delta Airtlines at the Burlington International Airport. (Photo courtesy of the Peterson Family)
Above Right: Peterson climbs a coconut tree during a service learning trip in Moraikobai, Guyana. (Photo courtesy of Lauren Kelley)