Peter S. Carlson ’66, on Nov. 23, 2017 on Nov. 15, 2017. He was 73 and a resident of Potomac, resident of Grand Junction, Colorado, Maryland.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Peter grew up in Dover, OH. He majored in Biology at Kenyon, swam with the Varsity Swimming Team, sand with the Kenyon Singers, and joined the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. After spending his junior year at the American University of Beruit, Lebanon, he returned to win Kenyon’s Maxwell Elliot Power Prize in Biology and graduate Magna Cum Laude as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Peter won a National Science Foundation Fellowship for graduate study at Yale University, where he earned his doctorate in Biology. He spent his early career in academe, adored as a teacher and admired as a researcher.
Appointed to the John Hannah Distinguished Professorship in agriculture at Michigan State University in 1974, Peter went to Beijing, China, in 1980 as the first foreign expert employed to introduce modern agriculture genetic technologies to the country. He was a prolific author of scientific articles and the holder of several patents. Also a successful entrepreneur, he served as a principal or advisor to ventures focused on commercializing agricultural and pharmaceutical bio technologies, including Crop Genetics International Corp., which he co-founded, and, more recently, Emaerald BioAgriculture Corp., where he was Chief Scientific Advisor.
Peter was memorialized as “a pioneering plant scientist who helped introduce genetically modified organisms to agriculture to increase the world’s food supply and improve global nutrition.” He was also remembered for “his love of life and laughter, his selfless spirit and deep devotion to family.”
Peter is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mary Helen Carlson; three daughters, Rachele Carlson, Kim Lara Carlson, and Lillian Carlson; four sons, Jacob Carlson, Mark Carlson, Andrew Carlson, and David Carlson; 18 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a Brother, William Carlson.
MEmorial contributions may be made to the Starlight School in care of the Ruth Carlson Foundation, 518 Church Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663.