S. Renovo park dedicated to longtime borough secretary Ernie Peterson
KEVIN RAUCH/FOR THE EXPRESS Ernie Peterson’s wife Betty, center, was all smiles as the sign dedicating the South Renovo Memorial Park to her late husband was unveiled for the first time.
KEVIN RAUCH/FOR THE EXPRESS Family members of longtime South Renovo borough secretary Ernest Peterson were on hand Saturday morning as borough officials renamed the park in South Renovo in his honor. Pictured at the park are, first row from left, Morgan Stellfox, Marsha Stellfox, Betty Peterson, Meghan Fedele and Diane Bitting. Second row, Emma Stellfox, Keith Stellfox and Barb Fedele.
KEVIN RAUCH/FOR THE EXPRESS Ernie Peterson’s wife Betty, center, was all smiles as the sign dedicating the South Renovo Memorial Park to her late husband was unveiled for the first time.
KEVIN RAUCH/FOR THE EXPRESS Family members of longtime South Renovo borough secretary Ernest Peterson were on hand Saturday morning as borough officials renamed the park in South Renovo in his honor. Pictured at the park are, first row from left, Morgan Stellfox, Marsha Stellfox, Betty Peterson, Meghan Fedele and Diane Bitting. Second row, Emma Stellfox, Keith Stellfox and Barb Fedele.
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SOUTH RENOVO -- It would be impossible to even guess how many times Ernest "Pete" Peterson was in the South Renovo Park.
With the borough office right next to the swings and sandboxes, the longtime South Renovo secretary spent more hours in recent decades than anyone in that building, working more often in good faith rather than for payment for the municipality.
Then there were the evening walks with his wife, Betty, which again, often meant that the couple would be walking up Pine Street, watching as the kids went down slides and played basketball on the courts.
So there was nothing more fitting than when, on Saturday morning, borough officials renamed the beloved playground "South Renovo Memorial Park - Dedicated to the Memory of Ernest F. Peterson."
Members of Pete's family, including his three daughters, grandkids and his wife were on hand when the sign marking the dedication was unveiled on Saturday.
"I think he would have been very honored to have been remembered this way. And yet, I don't think he would have liked the attention so much," said one of Peterson's daughters, Diane Bitting, with a smile, following the short ceremony in which the sign was shown for the first time. "The borough was his passion, all of those years he served as secretary, it was certainly a huge part of his life," Diane added.
"All three of us, his daughters, have spent many, many hours in the park. We love that it's still here and available for the kids," added Bitting. "He put so much effort into the park for so many years, keeping it up and running for the children of South Renovo. He would be touched and pleased for sure."
South Renovo Mayor Matt Carter originally pitched the idea to council, but said it was only his idea and that council only needed to hear the proposal before immediately acting on it.
The dedication was kept a secret from Betty, who found out 15 minutes prior to the dedication, as her family all poured in for the event.
"I think if I remember correctly Mom said 'oh jeez... he would have loved that,'" laughed Bitting.
"All of us that serve on council in South Renovo are well aware of what Mr. Peterson did, not just for this park but for the borough. There was no hesitation in moving forward with it," Carter said.
Peterson was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in the Korean War and reaching master sergeant.