State Rep. Jack Peterman (R-Milford) died Tuesday morning of an undisclosed illness. He was 74-years-old.
Peterman had missed much of the past two years at Legislative Hall after battling prostate cancer and pinched nerves that forced him to use a walker, and later, a wheelchair.
Following surgery to treat prostate cancer in March, he announced he would not seek re-election.
"Jack was a fixture in the Milford community who was proud to represent his hometown in the General Assembly, where he continued the service he started over many years of civic engagement,” said Gov. Jack Markell (D) in a statement.
“Jack Peterman was an inspiration to his colleagues in the General Assembly,” said State House Minority Leader Danny Short (R-Seaford) in a statement. “Over the last three years of his life, he was in almost constant pain. There were many occasions during that period when his health would have been better served by his remaining at home, but he pushed himself to get to the capitol just to ensure his constituents were heard in the legislature.”
Peterman, a lifelong Milford resident and graduate of Milford High School, was first elected to the State House of Representatives in 2010. He was finishing out his third, two-year term. The seat will remain vacant until voters in his district elect a new representative in November.
Before becoming a state representative, Peterman served on Kent County Levy Court as both a commissioner and president.
