Remembering Eric Peterson
ZANESVILLE − Wings of Hope Tabernacle Church hosted a memorial for native son Eric Enty Peterson on Monday. The long-time General Motors executive died on November 4. He was 70.
Peterson was born three years, four months and 16 days after his sister Carlotta to Carlos and Pauline Peterson, and grew up on Keen Street in Zanesville's old Eighth Ward.
"When he was born I thought it was really neat, I treated him like a doll baby," Carlotta said. Carlotta and Eric were close, and always supported each other, she said. "He was the most compassionate, most kind, intelligent person."
Eric graduated from Zanesville High School in 1970, then Ohio University's College of Business four years later with a degree in business administration and marketing. He followed that with management programs from Northwestern, Stanford and Harvard universities.
Church was a big part of their lives. Their grandfather, G.W. Morse, founded Wings of Hope Tabernacle on Lee Street in 1949. "We literally looked forward to going to church," Carlotta said. "Sunday school at 10, morning worship at 11, Christian Youth Fellowship at 6:30, and evening services at 7:30."
That faith helped guide their lives. "Everything Eric did, even in his later years, he was putting people first," Carlotta said. "He said people are our greatest resource, he treated everybody as a friend. He was very compassionate, he was very humanitarian. We learned that from our parents, our grandparents and definitely our church."
Morse was a major influence on their lives, both inside and outside of the church. Born in Alabama to parents whose parents were born in slavery, he came north looking for work. Largely self-taught before college, "he proved to us no matter what your beginnings are, no matter where you came from, by having a self-drive and initiative, you can make something of yourself," Carlotta said. "My grandfather showed love for other people, because that is what God would have you do, do unto others as you would have them do unto yourself, love your neighbor as yourself; Eric got that message," she said.
The close-knit community they grew up in was supportive too, with friends and neighbors both encouraging and looking out for them.
"He was a family man," Carlotta said. Eric married his high school sweetheart Sandy Caliman in 1974, and the two raised a family through numerous moves. All the while she helped Eric host corporate events. Once their two children were grown, they travelled extensively before Sandy's sudden passing in 2020.
Eric rose to the level of vice president at General Motors, retiring in 2016 after 40 years with the company. As U.S. Vice President for Diversity Dealer Relations, he helped minorities and women become automobile dealers. He was also on the board of a number of organizations, including the Ohio University Foundation Board. Eric and Sandy established a scholarship at OU for under represented students called the Eric and Sandy Workman Excellence Scholarship.
Eric never forgot where he came from, Carlotta said. "He used to say I am where I am because I stood on the shoulders of others. Our mom and dad promoted education, they promoted success, to be the best at whatever you want to be." Even when assigned far from home, Carlotta said, he always returned home to visit whenever he was nearby, and continued to enquire after his old friends, family and acquaintances. He was a financial and spiritual supporter of the church they grew up in, and a supporter of the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund of the Muskingum County Community Foundation.
Eric was a man of deep faith and love of family, Carlotta said. For all his success in the business world, he would want to be remembered as a Christian first, she said.
His memorial service was attended by notable figures from far and wide, Carlotta said. College presidents, members of the business community, faith leaders. Carlotta said her brother was a mentor. "He shared his time, he lifted people up."
Eric was survived by his son Eric II and daughter Kelly and grandchildren Eric III, Caleb, Kevin III and Jackson, as well as a large extended family.
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This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Remembering Eric Peterson
