Meet Edmund “Ed” Peterman

Chances are if you have been at Pitman Manor for even a short time you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Edmund “Ed” Peterman. He is one of the most friendly, thoughtful, and active residents here.

Ed’s plan was to move to Pitman Manor with Virginia, his wife of 52 years but she passed away before they were able to do so. Ed, a compassionate man, lovingly took care of Virginia for the last seven years of her life. Ed said he was impressed with the feeling of security and the loving care of the staff and decided to move here in January of 2006.

During World War II, Ed served in the Army as an infantryman, rifleman and lastly in counter-intelligence in the Philippines and Tokyo. Afterwards he married Virginia whom he met at a church social. The couple had one son Rick and over the years their family grew to include two grandchildren and three great -grandchildren. Before Ed retired, he was a partner in an insurance company in Philadelphia and Virginia was a school secretary.

Ed and Virginia shared the travel bug. They owned mobile homes and RVs and loved to travel with other couples. The Petermans travelled to Europe visiting England, Germany, Wales and Switzerland. (Lake Lucerne is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places he has visited.) Despite being 91, Ed hasn’t lost his love of the open road. He recently returned from a 7,000 mile cross country trip with his son and daughter-in-law.

Ed was born and raised in Audubon, NJ and later moved to Stratford where he lived for 42 years. Ed was an only child. He lived with his parents, an aunt and a cousin. “Dad was a good man. He worked the night shift so I didn’t see a lot of him growing up. My mother was a wonderful woman and an avid writer. She wrote to people all over the world, but her most famous Pen Pal was Helen Keller. “ Ed’s mother passed along her love of reading to him. “I learned to read at an early age and I still love books. Detective stories, travel adventures and autobiographies are my favorites,” said Ed.

Ed likes to stay busy. He is a mailroom volunteer, a Morning Glory, tends the resident garden and was recently elected President of the Resident Council, having previously served as Vice President. “I am now busy taking over my new position and am pleased with the cooperation I am getting from residents and staff regarding pending changes to the Constitution.”

Despite not having an extensive formal education (two years of business school), Ed possesses an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He enjoys getting into philosophical discussions with his friend George Keller. The two attend lectures at a local Quaker Meeting House and the Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill. Recently they attended a lecture on quantum physics. “Some of the items discussed were over my head – so I went home and did a little more research on the topic,” said Ed.

One of Ed’s favorite childhood memories was exploring the woods near his home. He enjoyed building forts and swimming in the “gulley.” He adds, “We didn’t have TV or computers in those days – so talking with friends and family on the front porch is one of the things I remember most about growing up.”

Ed enjoys birds, watching, feeding and carving miniature ones (he has given away more than 30 to residents and staff members). He also grows roses and strawberries.

What advice would Ed give a new resident? Accept whatever abilities you have and use them. Make friends along the way. He concludes by saying. “My life is like the last line from Robert Frost’s poem Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening – ‘But I have miles to go before I sleep.’ I feel that I still have lots to do and can make a difference.”

Written by Alice M. Coghill, Marketing Department