Ethel Smith Peterson and Roy Sigfred Peterson Scholarship

Although settling an estate can be laborious, there is genuine joy in carrying out the philanthropic wishes of a loved one after their death. It was in a telephone call from Margaret Monroe in Palo Alto, California, that CLU learned of Roy Peterson’s thoughtful estate gift. Margaret was Roy niece and successor trustee, and she took great joy in carrying out her uncle’s directives. Later, CLU learned of the motivation behind the gift.

Both Ethel Smith Peterson and her husband Roy Sigfred Peterson were children of Swedish immigrants. They were highly intellectual and committed to higher education. At a time when few women pursued degrees in science, Ethel earned hers in marine biology at U.C. Berkeley. Roy attended the University of Southern California until World War I cut his schooling short. After the war, Roy continued to hone his skills and ultimately became a successful accountant with a deep interest in business.

Roy and Ethel were devout Lutherans, active in the activities and even the management of their church, Trinity Lutheran in Pasadena. Roy served as church treasurer there for 35 years. Margaret told CLU that Ethel had had a great interest in California Lutheran from its inception. Although it is not known whether the Petersons ever visited the CLU campus, their lives are testament to their support of the Lutheran tradition in higher education.

In one of Roy’s last conversations with his niece, he asked her to establish an endowed scholarship in his and Ethel’s names at California Lutheran University. He gave clear directions regarding its administration: It was to be awarded to an incoming freshman without regard for age, sex, ethnic origin, religion or other limitation, and it could be continuous for four years for a full-time student. The other details were left to Margaret and her husband, who together clarified the definition of “freshman” to mean either a male or female student. They also added the criterion of “an expressed interest in biology or business.”

Without question, Roy, Ethel and their hardworking niece Margaret would be proud of the fruits of their efforts and good will.