Hazel Petersen Walter

Hazel Petersen Walter, retired Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean at Mobile College and Academic Dean at the University of Mobile Latin American Campus, Nicaragua, died March 15, 2023, in Gainesville, Florida after a brief illness. She was 99 years old. Dr. Walter was born to Charlie and Carra Adams on January 17, 1924, in Florala, Alabama. She overcame serious childhood health issues, and from the time she was in the third grade, she knew she would be a teacher. After graduating from Covington County High School, she enrolled at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. After three years of college, she married Neils J. Petersen, and they moved to Schenectady, New York, where Neils completed his degree at Union College. They returned to Birmingham, and she completed her degree in 1950 and taught school in Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama. After receiving a scholarship from International Paper Company, she was able to enroll at Auburn University in 1965 and completed her master’s degree and Doctorate in Education. In 1967, she joined the faculty at Mobile College (now the University of Mobile), a young and growing school where she had the unique opportunity to help mold the direction the institution would take. She chaired the Division of Education and rose to become the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean before her retirement in 1989. After Neils’ death, she accepted a position in Vietnam to teach English at Bac Thai Agricultural University #3. In 1992, she moved to San Marcos, Nicaragua to establish the University of Mobile Latin American Campus, where she served as Academic Dean before retiring to Mobile in 1999. During her celebrated career, she received hundreds of prestigious awards and accolades from international governments, institutions, and organizations. She was an innovator, role model, mentor, leader, trailblazer, and accomplished things women had not done before. In 2000, Hazel moved to The Village in Gainesville to be near family. She immediately became involved in many activities and served as president of the Resident Council and was on the Board of Directors of the North Florida Retirement Village, Inc. Shortly after moving to The Village, Hazel met another new resident, Homer Walter, whom she proclaimed was the love of her life. They married in 2002 and spent seven happy years together, traveling and attending community events. They particularly enjoyed going to plays and musical performances at Gainesville Community Playhouse, the Hippodrome, and the University of Florida. In the later years, she enjoyed the companionship of her dear friend, Roger Davis. Active, brave, a little bossy, and vibrant to the end, she loved fine dining, her daily prescription-mandated glass of red wine, stimulating conversation, playing Wordle, a good game of Skip-Bo, and keeping up with friends and family around the world on Facebook. She is survived by her two sisters, Grace Pritchard of Shalimar, Florida and Carol Davis of Gainesville. To list her family members would take two columns but suffice it to say that she leaves a legacy of loving nieces and nephews plus their children and grandchildren who will all fondly remember their “Aunt Dude,” friends all over the world who will treasure their memories of this grand lady, and thousands of students whose lives were forever changed because of her positive influence. A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 3:00 at Williams Thomas Funeral Home-Westarea Newberry, FL., with private services later in Mobile, Alabama. . In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hazel A. Petersen Leadership Scholarship at the University of Mobile. Donors may visit https://umobile.edu and click “Give” at the top of the page to designate the donation from the drop-down list.

Hazel Petersen Walter

January 17, 1924 - March 15, 2023