Lewis W. Petterson Jr.

Lewis W. Petterson Jr.,  age 85, Rhode Island born, die-hard New Yorker, Lew attended Brown University and Harvard Law School prior to a career in advertising. A longtime member and former president of the Amateur Comedy Club, Lew acted in and directed numerous productions. He enjoyed The New York Times crossword, sailing, Shakespeare, football, oil painting, cats, Agatha Christie, the Classics and singing in the choir at the Church of the Heavenly Rest. Lew is survived by his companion Hillary Ghertler; his three daughters Lisa Petterson, Julie McClain and Kate Petterson; his sons-in-law; and seven grandchildren he was immensely proud of. A man of intellect, integrity and strong opinions, Lew will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Fair winds and following seas, Lew.

Lew Petterson’s email address included “Ulysses” indicative of his fondness of the book and his general knowledge and love of literature. His membership in The Amateur Comedy Club goes back to 1964. The Club gave Lew an outlet to express his many talents. He was a word lover, a raconteur, singer of sea shanties and Choral Music. Rarely did he let a conversation get one-sided without finding, perhaps a less popular but intellectually substantive point of view. He directed the following ACC Major Productions; The Skin of Our Teeth, Bus Stop, The Pursuit of Happiness, The Time of Your Life, and Tiger at the Gates. Known as one of our best actors, he brought an authentic inner life to the many characters he gave us in the following Major Productions: Beyond the Fringe, The Public Eye and The Private Ear, Philadelphia Here I Come, The Three Penny Opera, Lion in Winter, A Cry of Players, Billy Budd, Night Must Fall, The Devil's Disciple, The Shadow of a Gunman, and Stalag 17.  His service to the Club extended to the “executive branch” serving as our Vice President in 1980 and President in 1982. In these last few years he was a regular at our Worknight, attending to the crusty position of collecting dinner donations (which he excelled at). Falling into the category our favorite ACC members often find themselves, that of the “Unforgettable”, he will long be remembered by the old and the new friends he made along his way.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Humane Society of New York or the Church of the Heavenly Rest, 1085 Fifth Avenue, New York City, where a memorial service will be held Thursday, November 7, 2019 at noon.

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