Ryan Marc Vander Wall, 29, a.k.a. Ryan on
the Run
Forty-three days after being diagnosed with liver cancer, Ryan Marc Vander Wall passed away peacefully, with his parents, his partner, Kendra, and a few friends at his bedside.
He died Dec. 23, 2006, one day after his 29th birthday.
The son of Shirley and Ken Vander Wall of Ft. Collins, Colo., Vander Wall was born with a heart defect. He underwent Fontan surgery “” new and experimental at the time “” at 3 years of age. He proved the doctors wrong, exceeding his life expectancy by 14 years.
Point Loma resident John Ames Petersen “” grandson of the late Walter and Marguerite Ames, longtime La Jolla residents “” died Dec. 9, 2006, at his home. He was born in Palo Alto in 1949 to parents Nancy Ames Petersen and Henry E. Petersen. When the family moved to New York in 1952, Petersen returned to San Diego to spend summer vacations at his grandparents’ home on Hillside Drive. He even learned to swim at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club.
In 1961, Petersen, his brother Jim and his mother returned to live in La Jolla, where he attended Muirlands Junior High School and La Jolla High School. Petersen lettered in swimming and graduated in 1967.
He attended the University of San Diego and earned a business degree from the University of Redlands.
As a teenager, Petersen took summer jobs at the Timken Museum of Art, founded by his grandfather. Eventually, he held almost every position at the museum, including guard, superintendent, director of operations and deputy director. In 1995, he was promoted to executive director and served with distinction until his death.
For many years Petersen coached his children’s soccer and softball teams in La Jolla. He was also supporter of the Gillispie School, where his children attended for many years.
Petersen is survived by his wife, Mary Beth; his daughter, Erin; his son, Dane; his mother, Nancy; and his brother, James, who works as the Timken Museum of Art’s administrator.
A public memorial for Petersen was held Jan. 5 at USD’s Immaculata Church. Friends have created a Web site to share photographs and memories at www.johnapetersen.com.