56 Years: Two Journeys: How a Lutheran became Ignatian in his Years at Boston College and how Boston College stayed Ignatian as

Harold Petersen is an Associate Professor Emeritus at Boston College. He grew up in Minnesota surrounded by Lutherans and arrived at Boston College in 1960 with some trepidation as to what it might be like to teach at a Catholic school. He lasted 56 years, during which time he was awarded the Loyola Medal, the John R. Traska, S.J., Award for mentorship of extra-curricular activities, and the Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Award. He was made an honorary member of Alpha Sigma Nu (the Jesuit Honor Society) and he served as chair of the Department of Economics for a total of eleven years. He lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with Candy, his bride of 57 years, and the two of them have three children and seven grandchildren. He continues to be active in his town, in his church, and at Boston College, where he and his wife are avid sports fans.