Peter J. Peterson, Jr., of Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, passed away on Tuesday evening, June 23, 2026, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset in Somerville. He was 73.
Born on February 14, 1953, in Neptune, New Jersey, Peter was the son of the late Irene (Araps) Peterson and the late Peter J. Peterson, Sr. He grew up in Toms River, where sports and the ocean were part of his early life. He played football, wrestled, worked as a lifeguard, and spent summers surfing. In his younger years, he also played recreational rugby and excelled in taekwondo.
Peter built a successful career as a wine salesman with the American B.D. Company, a wine wholesaler and importer in Glen Rock, New Jersey. The work suited him. He was social, energetic, and ready for conversation, with a sense of humor that could find its way into almost any moment.
He liked movement, challenge, and the chance to see new places. He traveled through the Caribbean and along the West Coast with his daughter, went to Northern Quebec with his son, and visited countries in Europe, including England, Italy, and Greece, a place connected to his family history. During a fishing trip in Canada, he saw the northern lights, a memory that stayed with him.
Fishing brought him joy, as did comedy shows, time with friends, and above all, time with family. Peter also had a deep affection for animals, especially pit bulls, and helped rescue them.
He is survived by his son, Kevin M. Peterson of Hillsborough, New Jersey; his daughter, Jill Peterson of Bound Brook, New Jersey; and his sisters, Thelma Sorrentino of Florida and Pam Parent of Canada.
Services will be held on Friday, June 26, 2026, at St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, 85 Voorhees Corner Road, Flemington, New Jersey. Visitation will take place from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Father Jimmy Pavlow. Interment will follow at 12:00 p.m. in the family plot at Prospect Hill Cemetery, 69 Capner Street, Flemington.