Carl Ivor Peterson, USAFA Class of 1975, of Boulder, Colorado, died Thursday, September 26, 1996, in Boulder, Colorado after a brave battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Diagnosed in 1990, Cip fought his illness with tenacity, courage and humility, and without complaint. As he did throughout his life, he set an example of dealing with adversity with his great sense of humor and loyalty to his family and friends. Cip outlasted the medical predictions, running and biking as long as he was able, and summitting Long's Peak in 1992. He was always ready with a wry smile and a joke, and those he touched in his life remember him with much love and affection.

Cip was born May 30, 1952 in Kremmling, Colorado to Ivor and Jayne Peterson. He graduated from Denver Country Day School in Englewood, Colorado in 1970 where he started as quarterback for the varsity football team and goalie for the varsity lacrosse team. He entered the USAFA Prep School in 1970 and the Air Force Academy in 1971. Cip lettered in Varsity Lacrosse for four years as the starting goalie and set several Academy records. He was selected as Captain and Most Valuable Player of the team in his senior year. Cip was a member of the CS-8 Red Devils where he served as the Spring Commander. 

He graduated from USAFA with a Bachelor's Degree in Management and served as a Missile Launch Control Officer at F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming from 1975 until 1980. He earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wyoming in 1977. He separated from the Air Force in 1980 to pursue a career in Information Technology. He married Brenda Brummond on March 29, 1980, in Harriman, Wyoming. After working in computer development for Texas Instruments in Dallas and Austin, Texas, he moved to Boulder in 1988 where he worked in computer development and sales with Tandem Computers of Denver.

Cip was an expert skier and tennis player. He was an avid camper, hiker, and mountain biker, and he was active in lacrosse clubs in Texas and Colorado. Cip earned the respect of his teammates and squadron with his quick and dry humor and his grasp of the critical issues of leadership and life. He was devoted to his family, and he was a sensitive and loving father to his two sons and daughter, Ryan, Kristofer and Skuyler. A memorial service was held at the Flagstaff Amphitheater in Boulder, Colorado on September 30, 1996, and Cip was interred at the Air Force Academy Cemetery on October 1, 1996.

Stanton Peterson, USAFA '77