Bob Petersen was a Waterloo fan – not simply a Black Hawks fan, but an enthusiastic proponent and booster for the entire Waterloo community. Petersen died on Sunday; he was 68.
Robert W. Petersen Jr. helped create the city's vibrant, modern landscape. He was a third-generation president of Northland Products Company, helping to guide the family business into the 21st century. A hockey fan from his earliest years, Petersen was also an important member of the ownership group which purchased the Waterloo Black Hawk more than a decade ago.
"Bob Petersen's impact on the Waterloo Black Hawks and the entire Cedar Valley cannot be overstated," said Black Hawks President and COO Joe Greene. "His vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to this community were instrumental in making facilities like Young Arena and the Cedar Valley SportsPlex a reality, while also helping ensure that the Black Hawks would continue to call Waterloo home. Generations of families, athletes, and hockey fans have benefitted from his dedication.
"It's a legacy that will be felt for generations to come."
Petersen was a driving force in the Waterloo Development Corporation and the Cedar Valley Economic Development Corporation. Through these organizations, Waterloo was able to revitalize its downtown district before and after the 2008 Cedar River Flood. Petersen helped spearhead fundraising efforts for Young Arena before the new rink opened in 1994. With many likeminded friends and business colleagues, he later helped establish the conditions leading to the development of the Cedar Valley SportsPlex, the RiverLoop area, and the forthcoming CourtWorks sports venue.
In 2012, Petersen, his brother Eric, and other investors purchased the Waterloo Black Hawks. Since then, the team has won two Anderson Cup titles, appeared in two Clark Cup Finals, and represented the United States at the 2012 Junior Club World Cup. More than 20 players who skated for Waterloo during that time have gone on to the NHL, and hundreds more have advanced to NCAA hockey. The team has also reinvested in Young Arena, including the current video scoreboard, Coors Light Cold Zone, SingleSpeed and Lincoln Savings Bank suites, Party Town Outfitters store, and most recently, hardware and software for a new light show.
"The Black Hawks have lost far more than a team owner," noted Greene. "Bob was one of the kindest, most sincere, and down-to-earth people I've ever known. He always showed great care and courtesy to those around him and possessed a genuinely humble spirit amid all his success and accomplishments."
Petersen wasn't yet five when the Black Hawks first skated at Waterloo Auditorium (today, the Cattle Congress Hippodrome). Business leaders like Petersen's father – Robert W. Petersen Sr. – took an abiding interest in the team, with the elder Petersen serving on the board of directors and a term as president of the non-profit organization which operated the club. Young Bob learned the game through programs offered through the Waterloo Recreation Commission and overseen by the original Black Hawks players of the 1960s. He was just in the right age bracket to be a member of the first Waterloo Warriors high school team and served as a Warriors captain before graduating from Waterloo West High School in 1976.
"We've lost a tremendous friend, a passionate supporter, and someone whose generosity and character represented everything that makes the Cedar Valley special," said Greene, adding, "He cared deeply about people, about Waterloo, and about making this community a better place without ever seeking recognition for himself. Those of us fortunate to have known him are better people because of it."
For the remainder of the season, the Black Hawks will wear a memorial patch on their jerseys commemorating Petersen. The logo features Petersen's initials – RWP – prominently. Those gold letters are ringed in red and gold circles, the colors of the Northland Products logo. A black ribbon appears between red and gold quadrangles which evoke wings, in recognition of Petersen's long-honed skills as a pilot.
Visitation is scheduled for Monday, November 2nd, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Home, 300 West Ridgeway Avenue. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, November 3rd, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Edward Catholic Church.
