In memoriam: Cameron Peterson

Pitt alumnus Cameron Peterson, who graduated this past spring with a degree in molecular… Pitt alumnus Cameron Peterson, who graduated this past spring with a degree in molecular biology, died on Nov. 1 at the age of 23. Close friends will hold a memorial service for him Nov. 19 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Lower Lounge of the William Pitt Union.

Police found Peterson in his Oakland residence at 3922 Pierce St. and pronounced him dead on the scene on Nov. 1. The Allegheny County medical examiner said the cause of death is still unknown, pending additional lab work.

Peterson, who was from Grove City, Pa., is survived by his older brother, his younger sister and his parents Paul and Patricia Peterson.

Alex Ireland, a 2011 Pitt graduate in biological sciences, and Ally Young, a senior studying molecular biology, both described Peterson as the most positive person they knew.

“He laughed at some of the dumbest jokes. Stupid riddles and puns that like a 4-year-old would find clever, he just thought were hysterical. He was always smiling and always laughing,” Ireland said.

Peterson had just graduated from Pitt in the spring and had completed his MCAT for medical school.

“Any time spent with him, whether it was studying for the MCAT or taking practice MCATs or anything, was just so much fun,” Young said. “He was very optimistic. He could find humor in anything. I think that was one of my favorite things I remember about him.”

Ireland and Peterson were pursuing research in the Jeff Brodsky laboratory in Pitt’s biological science department during and after graduating from Pitt. Brodsky served as one of Peterson’s mentors throughout his undergraduate career and time in the laboratory.

“I will always remember Cameron’s smile and his enthusiasm about science. He was a very talented researcher and a pleasure to have as a member of the lab,” Brodsky said in an email.

Cristy Gelling, a postdoctoral scholar at Pitt, was one of Peterson’s more direct mentors. She said that he had a major role in research related to genetic diseases.

“We will miss him mostly for his vibrant presence in our lives,” Gelling said in an email. “He was confident and positive and kept everyone in the lab laughing. Next year, our research will be published in a paper that we plan to dedicate to Cameron’s memory.”

Peterson’s long-term plans included enrolling in medical school. Ireland said that the two of them crammed for the MCATs, studied and went through the application process together.

But Young said that despite the long hours Peterson put in completing the medical school application process, his friends still knew him as down-to-earth and relaxed.

“He studied hard, but on the weekends, you probably saw him out at the bar one time,” Young said. “He just loved to have fun, lay out in Schenley, read, play music, go to the bar with friends, have a good beer.”

In their spare time, Peterson and Ireland would play pick-up games of roller hockey at Greenfield. Ireland said that Peterson also enjoyed playing the guitar.

“He had an obsession with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Third Eye Blind,” Ireland said. “Music was a big part of his life, and … a lot of the memories people have are related to music or him singing.”

This past Halloween, Peterson and another friend, Kurt Weiberth, went out as the LMFAO duo Redfoo and SkyBlu.

“They were hilarious. ‘Party Rock Anthem’ was played all weekend, and they were dancing and shufflin’. He said to me that weekend [that he] was literally having the best weekend of his life,” Ireland said.

The memory is bittersweet for Ireland and Young, who can look back and remember being a part of the best moments of Peterson’s life while still realizing they’ve lost a dear friend.

“You wouldn’t think that LMFAO would make you cry,” Young said.