Dr. Sharon Sue Peterson

October 29, 1955 – August 27, 2022

On August 27, 2022, Dr. Sharon Sue Peterson, known to some as “Shari” or “Dr. P,” passed away peacefully after an extended and courageous battle with early-onset dementia.

Sharon was born on October 29, 1955, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the first daughter among six siblings. An army brat, Sharon grew up moving from place to place. Her family eventually settled in El Paso, Texas, where she graduated from Burges High School in 1973.

Sharon was always a high achiever. As a senior in high school, Sharon was an officer of the National Honor Society. In typical Sharon fashion, there were not enough students to fill all the officer roles, so she held two: secretary and treasurer. She was also in charge of advertising for the school newspaper, the Stampede.

After high school, Sharon began her studies at the University of Michigan as a dance major. She was a classical pointe ballerina and classmates with the now-famous Madonna. However, on a whim, Sharon changed her major to a triple major in the sciences—physics, biology, and chemistry—to begin pursuing a career where she could help people. Astonishingly, she found the study of three sciences to be easier than dance. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan in 1978.

After college, Sharon wished to pursue a career in dentistry because she considered it “happy work.” To that end, she attended The University of Texas at Houston and was awarded her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1982. In a male-dominated profession, Sharon overcame many obstacles to pursue her dream. In 1986, she became the second woman ever to complete the competitive Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency with The University of Texas School of Dentistry.

Sharon ran a thriving oral and maxillofacial surgery practice in Houston for twenty-six years. She especially enjoyed performing complex orthognathic surgeries. Sharon had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and meaningful way, always valuing her strong relationships with her friends, coworkers, and patients over money or success. She volunteered her time freely to charitable organizations; she was involved with the Edward C.Hinds Committee, for which she was a past president, and she provided free dental care to children in Guatemala.

Sharon’s hobbies were numerous and challenging. She was an accomplished world traveler, often traveling to exotic destinations like Egypt and Israel. Sharon obtained her pilot’s license, logging hundreds of flight hours and obtaining certification to fly twin-engine aircraft. Sharon ran dozens of marathons, including the prestigious Boston and New York City Marathons. She also became a registered interior designer, designing and constructing her dream home in 2005. Sharon was an active member of Congregation Emanu El for several years leading up to her diagnosis. Further, Sharon was an avid skier, always taking advantage of the Greater Houston Dental Society’s annual ski trips with her daughters.

No matter how many titles Sharon acquired—doctor, pilot, interior designer, officer—Sharon’s best-loved title was always Mom. She considered her two daughters, Drew Fein (husband Zachary) and Sloan Carver-Peterson, to be her greatest achievement. Even though she led a remarkably busy lifestyle, she somehow managed to give all of herself to her daughters. Everyone—including her daughters—called her the “cool Mom,” especially when she was driving around in her 1970s Mercedes convertible with the top down.

Even in death, Sharon continues to help people. Her family donated her brain to the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio to help researchers find better ways to diagnose and treat the 50 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

In addition to her daughters, Sharon is survived by brothers Michael Peterson (wife Karen) and Stephen “Pete” Peterson Jr. (wife Violeta), sisters Nancy Dillow (husband Gale), Amy Bloomquist (husband Larry), and Melissa Fleming (husband Stanford), stepmother Arlene Ritter Peterson, stepsiblings Margie Schaeferkoeter (husband Joe) and Debbie Respondek Pape, numerous nieces and nephews, a grand-niece, grand-nephews, and several cousins.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen Peterson Sr. and Patricia Respondek, her stepfather, Aaron Respondek, her brother, Richard Peterson, her stepsister, Sharon Ehninger, and her beloved cat, Mittens.

A Celebration of Life service for Sharon will be held Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 3:00 PM at the A.D. Bruce Religion Center at the University of Houston, 3841 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77004. The service will be followed by a reception in the Atrium of the A.D. Bruce Religion Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, the Alzheimer’s Association, or the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio.

Finally, to fulfill Sharon’s lifetime dream of becoming an astronaut, her daughters and son-in-law, Zachary, are sending a portion of her ashes to the Moon aboard a Firefly Aerospace lunar lander launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Peterson family.