Arthur Peterson, 95, helped build the atomic bomb

Col. Arthur "Pete" Peterson, a leader in the U.S. government's Manhattan Project to build the atomic bomb, died in Seattle on March 24. He was 95.

After a long career in nuclear engineering working for both the government and private industry, Col. Peterson retired in Seattle, where he lived for the past 14 years.

Col. Peterson was training for combat at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 1942 when he was transferred to a new assignment that would forever tie him to a piece of world history: the Manhattan Project.

As the U.S. raced to build an atomic bomb before Germany, Col. Peterson helped create the world's first controlled nuclear reaction. From 1942 to 1945, he worked under Nobel Prize-winning physicists to create the atomic bomb.

After the war, Col. Peterson worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, a government effort to promote the peaceful use of atomic energy.

Col. Peterson left the government in 1953 and pursued atomic energy in the private sector. As leader of the new atomic-energy division at the American Machine and Foundry Company in New York City, he developed research reactors that were built all over the world.

"We, as kids, were fascinated with what he did," said Col. Peterson's son, Art Peterson Jr.

While running his own consulting company, AVP Associates, the family lived on North Carolina's Outer Banks, where Col. Peterson loved to fish. They then moved to Maui, where they lived for 14 years, growing exotic flowers on a farm.

Born in Morristown, N.J., Col. Peterson grew up in New York City. He graduated from New York University with a degree in civil engineering. He continued his studies at Cornell University, where he earned a master's degree in civil engineering.

As a reserve military officer, Col. Peterson was called to active duty with the Army in 1941. Soon after, he married his college sweetheart, Marie-Louise Peterson, who preceded him in death in 2004.

Col. Peterson is survived by his two sons, Art Peterson Jr. and John Peterson, both of Seattle; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He also was preceded in death by his daughter, Medley Cannelora, of California.

Services were held March 28 at Tahoma National Cemetery, near Kent.

Lauren Vane: 206-464-2926 or lvane@seattletimes.com