Alumni Association

’36 Grad's Advice: Stay Active

Emeritus Alumni Board Member Janet Petersen has the secret for living a long life. “Stay active,” she says. This 95-year-old graduate from the Duluth State Teachers College (DSTC) golfs, writes poetry, and drives her friends to church. Peterson, who has been an energetic person since her college days, hasn’t slowed down. Not even after she married, had three daughters, and taught physical education at Duluth’s Denfeld High School.

Peterson has made the news lately. The Duluth Budgeteer newspaper wrote a story in mid-September and shortly after that, a Duluth TV-station announced that Peterson’s former students from Denfeld were throwing a surprise party for her. “I was watching the news, so they gave away the surprise,” she said. Nearly 100 people honored Peterson at the event.

When she attended DSTC as Janet Falconer, Peterson was always on the go. She graduated with a four-year degree in physical education and social science, with K-12 certification. Her list of activities is long. She was a member of the basketball team; the women’s athletic association; the class cabinet; and a writer for the student newspaper — the Fort Nightly Chronicle. She also was a cheerleader; a member of the Barkers — the DSTC pep club; and a member of a dance group called Orchesis. “I was a bit of a tomboy and Dr. Graybeal, the Phy. Ed. teacher, had to keep reminding me to be graceful,” Peterson said. Peterson was so well liked by her classmates, she was elected May Fete queen.

After graduation, she went right to work, teaching in Wrenshall, Moose Lake, Lincoln Junior High, and Central High School. Peterson took a break to spend time with her three daughters when they were young. It took a little bit of convincing to get her back into the classroom, but when she went back to Denfeld in 1959, she stayed for 17 years. “I just loved it!,” she said. She still golfs with a group of former students from Denfeld.

Petersen has strong connections to UMD. Five family members are alumni: her daughter, Jean McCall (1970); son-in-law, Tim McCall (1972); daughter, Kathy Jo Petersen (1972); granddaughter, Tera Young (1997); and grandson, Gregg McCall (2000).

She has been a member of the alumni board since 1996 and now has the title of Director Emeritus. Peterson helped organize her 50th class reunion with Bob Williams. “Beth Brown was the Alumni Director when I first joined the board. That’s when we called alumni for donations.” Perhaps it was Peterson’s school spirit that prompted alumna Virginia Murray to nominate her for the board. After all, Peterson has had season tickets to the men’s hockey games since they played in the old curling club.

Peterson has always followed her own advice. From her activities in college, to her teaching career, to life in her ninth decade, she stays active. She has a little bit more to say about living long, “Spend time with young people and play golf.”