Melvin William Petersen

Melvin William Petersen, 90, of Walnut Creek, California died at home early on April 18th. His ancestors were from Germany, Denmark, Hungary and the Netherlands. He was born in Hillsboro, Oregon as the third of six children born to Henry and Esther Henrietta (Smith) Petersen. The family went to nearby St. Matthew's Catholic church and the boys altar served.

His education was provided by St. Matthew Elementary school, Hillsboro High school (class of 1954) and the University of Portland, (class of 1959). At the university he took ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) classes and spent 6 months at Fort Ord, CA, in basic training. Mel graduated magna cum laude from UP with a degree in Accounting and as a member of the Catholic Honor Society. He immediately drove to San Francisco for an accounting position with the John F. Forbes company to earn his work experience, passed his CPA exam and earned his CPA license.

Melvin married the love of his life, Julia Anne Heesacker, on May 6, 1961 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic church in Roy, Oregon. The newlyweds lived in SF on La Playa near the cable car and bus route to work, and looked forward to starting a family. They welcomed sons Roger and Gary and moved across the Golden Gate to Marin.

Shortly before their daughter Carol was born, they moved to Sacramento where Melvin managed the State STRS and PERS retirement funds from 1966 to 1983. During the hot Sacramento summers, the family rafted down the American River, with Mel piloting them safely through the rapids, dreaming of someday tackling the Colorado river.

Melvin had a strong work ethic and believed in the importance of a quality education, with Catholic grade school and high school for his three children. After all 3 had been accepted to 4 year colleges, Mel and Julie headed to Edmonds, Washington, seeking the Oregon climate that they were missing. Mel worked at Seafirst Bank in Seattle, and found an internship where his daughter worked with him one summer. The Seattle rain fest ran from Sep 1 - Aug 31. His wife missed sunny warm California, and Mel’s work friend had an opportunity at McMorgan in San Francisco. Friendships from work, family, neighborhood and church remained meaningful to Mel throughout his 9 decades.

The family spent many years together growing up and traveling to visit relatives in Oregon, and Bandon, the Tillamook Cheese factory, hiking trails, running in the annual "Bay to Breakers" event and many more adventures. Mel planned trips in advance, composing detailed travel itineraries. The teenagers finished their college degrees within 13 months of each other. The family celebrated with a trip to Alaska viewing glaciers, animals, Denali, Anchorage and the land of the midnight sun. In recent years, Mel and Julie enjoyed visiting Hawaii, and driving up the Oregon Coast, where they loved the ocean, redwoods, scenery and golfing.

Mel is known as a quiet, wise, thoughtful and generous man. He especially loved his wife of 65 years and showed such great dedication and commitment, and to his 3 children. He had a passion for investing, watching golf tournaments, football and news on TV, rooting for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland A’s. He attended golf tourneys, including Pebble Beach in Carmel. Mel much enjoyed reading books and newspapers, playing golf, watching pro golf games in person especially at Pebble Beach, and traveling through Panama to Scotland and Denmark, as well as favorites Hawaii and the Oregon Coast. He counseled numerous friends, family and neighbors when asked for financial advice. Many have relayed how well his advice helped them, and have expressed their appreciation for how well he managed their retirement fund investments. Save for a rainy day. Balance your budget. Buy low, sell high. If it’s not low, don’t buy.

He is preceded in passing by his parents, his brother Kenneth and wife Sue, his sister Mary Davies and husband Bill, and his sister Patricia at birth. He is survived by his wife and three children and their spouses: Roger and Judy, Gary and Leigh Anne, Carol and Mark, and by eight grandchildren, and by his brother Donald with 5 sons, and brother Robert with 1 daughter.

Melvin lived with faith, dignity, order and care for others. He will be dearly missed, but could be challenging St. Peter to a chess match as we speak!