Obituary for Bess C. Peterson
Bess Apostolou Peterson, of Bradley Beach, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 6, 2023 at the age of 98. Bess was born on December 8, 1924 in the City of Asbury Park to Theodosios and Martha Apostolou. She was an outstanding student both in the academic realm as well as the athletic arena, earning four varsity letters in sports. She was set to attend college with visions of becoming a gym teacher until her plans were diverted by the sudden appearance of Frank Peterson, who appeared at her home to ask her out. Love captured the two and they were married in 1942. Frank and Bess were blessed with two children, Peter James Peterson and Martha Peterson.
Bess and Frank began a journey together that took them on a path in the restaurant industry. Involved in many ventures such as Petersons Sunset Cabin, Pleasant Valley Inn, Shrewsbury Inn, Buttonwood Manor and Perkins, they sold their interests and opened Peterson’s Riviera Inn and Liquor store in Brick Township in 1965. Bess became the face of the store, greeting countless patrons over the years.
Unfortunately, her husband Frank passed away in 1971. Never one to back down to a challenge, Bess took over the sole reins of the business and ran it successfully until it’s sale in 2003. Her prowess in the industry was recognized by the New Jersey Restaurant Association of New Jersey in 1995 when it named Bess as the “Restauranteur of the Year’, the first woman to receive such an honor.
As great a businesswoman as she was, she was more accomplished as a humanitarian. Her tenets in life were “Faith, Family and Friends.” She was involved with Church and social giving from an early age. She was past President and continuous member of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Philoptochos society, a charitable organization of the church. Because of her years of leadership and devotion to the church and it’s causes, Bess was recognized by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras in 1969, personally bestowing upon her the title “Arcondissa” in Istanbul Turkey. Bess also served on the advisory boards of the Medical Center of Ocean County, the Monmouth Medical Center Pollack Auxiliary Association, The Papanicolaou Women’s Cancer Center and the Arc of Monmouth County, to name a few.
Whenever there was a person or cause in need, Bess would be one of the first in line to help. She and her siblings learned these valuable lessons from their parents, two immigrants who came to America and realized the American dream. Bess and her siblings were fiercely patriotic and never stopped giving thanks to God and this nation for the blessings bestowed upon them.
Bess was predeceased by her parents, Theodosios and Martha Apostolou; her husband Frank, her son Peter James Peterson, her daughter Martha Peterson and her siblings and their spouses, Louis
Apostolou, Dan Apostolou, Sophie Batsis and Vickie Kosmas.
Bess is survived by her two loving grandchildren Peter Peterson and his wife Nicole and Anne Rowell and her husband Dave as well as two great grandsons, Peter and John Rowell. Also surviving is her beloved daughter-in-law Carol Peterson and many nieces and nephews who hold her memory and lessons of life in their hearts.
In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Bess’s directives, donations are requested to be made to St.
George Greek Orthodox Church, 1033 West Park Avenue, Ocean NJ 07712. Please indicate on the check in the memorandum section “The Bess C. Peterson Scholarship Fund and St. Basil Philoptochos Fund.”
Visitation will be on Thursday, February 9, 2023 between 3:00PM and 7:00 PM at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1033 West Park Avenue, Ocean Township, NJ and Friday, February 10, 2023 from 9:00 AM until the service time at 10:00 AM at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Ocean, NJ.
Bess and Frank began a journey together that took them on a path in the restaurant industry. Involved in many ventures such as Petersons Sunset Cabin, Pleasant Valley Inn, Shrewsbury Inn, Buttonwood Manor and Perkins, they sold their interests and opened Peterson’s Riviera Inn and Liquor store in Brick Township in 1965. Bess became the face of the store, greeting countless patrons over the years.
Unfortunately, her husband Frank passed away in 1971. Never one to back down to a challenge, Bess took over the sole reins of the business and ran it successfully until it’s sale in 2003. Her prowess in the industry was recognized by the New Jersey Restaurant Association of New Jersey in 1995 when it named Bess as the “Restauranteur of the Year’, the first woman to receive such an honor.
As great a businesswoman as she was, she was more accomplished as a humanitarian. Her tenets in life were “Faith, Family and Friends.” She was involved with Church and social giving from an early age. She was past President and continuous member of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Philoptochos society, a charitable organization of the church. Because of her years of leadership and devotion to the church and it’s causes, Bess was recognized by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras in 1969, personally bestowing upon her the title “Arcondissa” in Istanbul Turkey. Bess also served on the advisory boards of the Medical Center of Ocean County, the Monmouth Medical Center Pollack Auxiliary Association, The Papanicolaou Women’s Cancer Center and the Arc of Monmouth County, to name a few.
Whenever there was a person or cause in need, Bess would be one of the first in line to help. She and her siblings learned these valuable lessons from their parents, two immigrants who came to America and realized the American dream. Bess and her siblings were fiercely patriotic and never stopped giving thanks to God and this nation for the blessings bestowed upon them.
Bess was predeceased by her parents, Theodosios and Martha Apostolou; her husband Frank, her son Peter James Peterson, her daughter Martha Peterson and her siblings and their spouses, Louis
Apostolou, Dan Apostolou, Sophie Batsis and Vickie Kosmas.
Bess is survived by her two loving grandchildren Peter Peterson and his wife Nicole and Anne Rowell and her husband Dave as well as two great grandsons, Peter and John Rowell. Also surviving is her beloved daughter-in-law Carol Peterson and many nieces and nephews who hold her memory and lessons of life in their hearts.
In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Bess’s directives, donations are requested to be made to St.
George Greek Orthodox Church, 1033 West Park Avenue, Ocean NJ 07712. Please indicate on the check in the memorandum section “The Bess C. Peterson Scholarship Fund and St. Basil Philoptochos Fund.”
Visitation will be on Thursday, February 9, 2023 between 3:00PM and 7:00 PM at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1033 West Park Avenue, Ocean Township, NJ and Friday, February 10, 2023 from 9:00 AM until the service time at 10:00 AM at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Ocean, NJ.