Obituary for ERIC ENTY PETERSON
Eric Enty Peterson (70) entered the gates of Heaven on November 4th, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, to Carlos and Pauline Peterson who preceded him in death. Eric was a dedicated husband to Sandy (Caliman) Peterson, the love of his life, who also preceded him in death. He was a devoted and dedicated husband, father, and grandfather who always put God first; and whose love for his family was second to none. He is survived by his two children: Eric II (Megan) and Kelly (Kevin); four grandsons: Eric III, Caleb, Kevin III and Jackson; his sister, Carlotta (Jim) Workman; his in-laws; an aunt; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Eric’s Christian faith never wavered in the face of adversity, whether it was in the loss of his beloved wife Sandy, or his recent battle with Leukemia.
Eric graduated from Ohio University in 1974 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Marketing. He went on to complete an Executive Development Program at Northwestern University, the Stanford University Executive Program, and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. Eric was employed with General Motors
Corporation for more than 40 years, retiring in 2016 as U.S. Vice President for Diversity Dealer Relations. Under Eric’s leadership, General Motors was able to re-establish itself in the corporate and community environments as a leader and proponent of diversity and inclusion, both locally and nationally. A significant part of Eric’s career had been assisting minorities and women to achieve their goals in becoming automobile dealers.
Eric supported and served on various boards of national and community-based organizations. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Charles H. Wright African American Museum in Detroit; a member of the Board of Trustees for Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit; a Trustee member for the Ohio University Foundation Board; and a trustee member for the National NAACP Foundation Board. He was also a member of the Executive Leadership Council, an organization that focuses on developing executives of color in corporate boardrooms, and mentoring mid-level managers for movement into the executive suites. Throughout his career, Eric’s focus was always on helping others to be successful, often quoting that “People are your most important resource.”
Eric has received numerous national awards and acknowledgements for his service in the corporate and professional communities, including but not limited to the following: National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers’ (NAMAD) Lifetime Achievement Award (2017); the Award of Lifetime Achievement in Business from the Ohio University College of Business; Savoy magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America”; and recognized as one of the Michigan Chronicle’s Men of Excellence. Peterson believed that giving back and serving others is very important. This belief led to creating The Eric and Sandy Peterson Excellence Scholarship, to assist underrepresented students in attending Ohio University.
Eric was a Christian, who always gave God credit for his many successes in life. The accolades, awards, and recognition he received were well earned and much appreciated; but he wanted to be known first as a Christian, a true follower of Jesus Christ; a man who lived by God’s commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
In lieu of flowers, donations in Eric’s memory would be appreciated by giving to either of the non-profits that he was actively involved. You can donate to The Eric and Sandy Peterson Excellence Scholarship at the Ohio University Foundation through the https://bit.ly/OUEricPeterson link or to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, MI https://thewright.donation.veevartapp.com/donation/view/home/in-memoriam-gift-eric-peterson
Memorial Service November 19th, 2022 10am. Charles H. Wright African American Museum 315 E Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.
Eric graduated from Ohio University in 1974 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Marketing. He went on to complete an Executive Development Program at Northwestern University, the Stanford University Executive Program, and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University. Eric was employed with General Motors
Corporation for more than 40 years, retiring in 2016 as U.S. Vice President for Diversity Dealer Relations. Under Eric’s leadership, General Motors was able to re-establish itself in the corporate and community environments as a leader and proponent of diversity and inclusion, both locally and nationally. A significant part of Eric’s career had been assisting minorities and women to achieve their goals in becoming automobile dealers.
Eric supported and served on various boards of national and community-based organizations. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Charles H. Wright African American Museum in Detroit; a member of the Board of Trustees for Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit; a Trustee member for the Ohio University Foundation Board; and a trustee member for the National NAACP Foundation Board. He was also a member of the Executive Leadership Council, an organization that focuses on developing executives of color in corporate boardrooms, and mentoring mid-level managers for movement into the executive suites. Throughout his career, Eric’s focus was always on helping others to be successful, often quoting that “People are your most important resource.”
Eric has received numerous national awards and acknowledgements for his service in the corporate and professional communities, including but not limited to the following: National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers’ (NAMAD) Lifetime Achievement Award (2017); the Award of Lifetime Achievement in Business from the Ohio University College of Business; Savoy magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America”; and recognized as one of the Michigan Chronicle’s Men of Excellence. Peterson believed that giving back and serving others is very important. This belief led to creating The Eric and Sandy Peterson Excellence Scholarship, to assist underrepresented students in attending Ohio University.
Eric was a Christian, who always gave God credit for his many successes in life. The accolades, awards, and recognition he received were well earned and much appreciated; but he wanted to be known first as a Christian, a true follower of Jesus Christ; a man who lived by God’s commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
In lieu of flowers, donations in Eric’s memory would be appreciated by giving to either of the non-profits that he was actively involved. You can donate to The Eric and Sandy Peterson Excellence Scholarship at the Ohio University Foundation through the https://bit.ly/OUEricPeterson link or to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, MI https://thewright.donation.veevartapp.com/donation/view/home/in-memoriam-gift-eric-peterson
Memorial Service November 19th, 2022 10am. Charles H. Wright African American Museum 315 E Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.