Donald R. Peterson Jr. of Swampscott died on Friday, September 18, 2026 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers after a brief illness, 15 days after the death of his father, Donald R. Peterson. He was 78 and had been married 58 years to Marilyn J. (Perreault) Peterson.
He was born in Lynn, the son of Donald and Mary Lois (Randall) Peterson, raised in Swampscott, and graduated from Swampscott High School in 1966 and North Shore Community College in 1968. He served in the Navy from 1968 to 1972, spent a year on an offshore lobster boat, and then worked as a customer service agent for Delta Airlines until he retired in 2003. He kept a lobster boat of his own, rode a motorcycle and played hockey.
Besides his wife, he leaves his son, Derek Peterson and his wife Robyn; his grandchildren, Jacinda, Tucker and Colby Peterson; and his brother, Leonard Peterson. His son Glenn S. Peterson and his sister Joan Peterson died before him.
A graveside service for him and his father is Wednesday, September 23 at 10 a.m. at Swampscott Cemetery, Essex Street, Swampscott. Arrangements are by the Solimine Funeral Home, Lynn. The family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society, 125 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130.
Compiled from information published by Solimine Funeral Homes. Photograph courtesy of the family via Solimine Funeral Homes. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.
