Hugh Pettersen

CEDAR FALLS -- C. Hugh Pettersen of Cedar Falls died Thursday, October 23, 2014, at Covenant Medical Center. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of The Reverend Clarence Henry and Wanda Catherine Rynning Pettersen. He grew up in Forest City and attended Iowa State Teachers College (UNI). As a College Hill businessman for 45 years, he first opened a clothing store, The Duke, and in 1984 the Henry W. Myrtle Gallery. He was known as the unofficial “Mayor of College Hill” because of his leadership with the College Hill Merchant and Professional Association. He created and developed the College Hill Neighborhood Association and College Hill Arts Festival, serving as festival director for 16 years. The community benefited because of Hugh’s involvement in the arts. He was a charter member of the Cedar Falls Art and Culture Board. James Hearst named Hugh as a member of the Task Force for the Hearst Center for the Arts and he served on the board for six years. He was an active participant, board member, and board president of Cedar Falls Arts Alive (now Friends of the Hearst), the Metropolitan Chorale, and the University of Northern Iowa Civic Arts Association for many years. Hugh served as a board member for the Friends of the Gallagher Bluedorn, creating and chairing the Creme de la Creme annual fund-raiser since its beginning in 2001. He was a long-time supporter of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra and the UNI School of Music. Numerous awards were given to Hugh, including 1993 City of Cedar Falls Distinguished Service Award, 1997 Volunteerism Award from the Cedar Falls Community and Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce, 1999 Business and Industry Appreciation Award from the City of Cedar Falls and Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce, 2008 Representative Citizen Award from the Sturgis Falls organization, 2010 Gallagher-Bluedorn Outstanding Service to the Performing Arts, 2012 Howard V. Jones Award for leadership and Philanthropy in the Arts, and 2014 Peter Melendy Distinguished Community Builder Award from the Cedar Falls Community Foundation. The area formerly known as Dry Run Creek Plaza was named ‘C. Hugh Pettersen Plaza’ in 2010 to honor all Hugh did to promote the College Hill. Survived by: several cousins Preceded in death by: his parents; a sister, Wanda Annette Pettersen; and a brother, The Reverend Omar Wesley Pettersen. Memorial Concert: 2:00 p.m. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015 at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. Memorials: may be directed to the Hearst Center for the Arts (304 West Seerley Blvd), UNI School of Music, and UNI Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts (both through the UNI Foundation, 1223 West 22nd Street 50614-0239).