Page created by: Alan Petersburg

Alan Richard Petersburg, 66, passed away peacefully from a stroke on April 7, 2025 in Cary, NC after valiantly battling Parkinson’s disease for over ten years.

Alan was born December 14, 1958 in South Bend, IN. Being the youngest of three with two older sisters cultivated a life-long competitive spirit. Alan excelled in school and graduated top of his class from South Bend Riley High School. He earned a BS with Honors in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in 1981. After being awarded the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, he attended Oxford University 1981-1983 where he received a MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Alan always said he was humbled by the people he met while studying at Oxford and continued throughout his life to be inspired by his experiences while there.

Alan participated in numerous sports while in school including tennis, swimming, golf, rowing, and squash, but his favorite activity was playing trumpet. His life-long passion for music found him playing in multiple school and local bands, brass quintets, jazz ensembles, and most memorably the Purdue All-American Marching Band. It was in the marching band that Alan met Deborah Beaumont who would become his wife. They weathered a long-distance relationship while Alan studied at Oxford and they were married in June 1984 after Debbie graduated.

Alan began his prestigious 32 year career with IBM in Research Triangle Park, NC in 1983. Debbie and Alan moved to Cary NC after they married, beginning an amazing 40-year journey filled with travel and adventure while both maintaining dedicated careers and most importantly supporting love for family. Their daughter Lauren was born in 1990 during their IBM international assignment to Sindelfingen, Germany. After a short time in Somers NY at IBM headquarters, the family moved to San Jose CA where their son, Ryan, was born in 1993. Alan’s expertise in the financial, technical, and managerial aspects of IBM products merged back in RTP NC where he spent the last 18 years of his career as a Director and Business Line Manager.

Alan always put his love for his wife and children first. Supporting and participating in all of their varied activities and eventual careers brought him extreme pride and joy. After getting the travel bug while in Oxford, he continued to prioritize travel with his family and work whether it was motorhome camping throughout the US or taking international trips to explore distant countries. His extensive map of world travels impressively spanned the globe

In 2014 Alan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. After fully retiring from IBM in 2015, Alan focused on learning everything he could about Parkinson’s committing himself fully to daily exercise, Rock Steady Boxing, bike riding, hiking, clinical trials, attending conferences, and endless research. During this time, Alan also volunteered his business talents to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs which he found very rewarding. Debbie and Alan prioritized taking many memorable “bucket list” trips including their favorite to Australia and New Zealand.

Alan’s fight against Parkinson’s was courageous. His decline with multiple ensuing health issues was challenging requiring multiple hospitalizations and around-the-clock care. His perseverance and positive attitude were admirable. Debbie’s love and care for Alan during his Parkinson’s journey was unwavering as his wife, friend, cheerleader, and advocate. Loving support also came from their daughter Lauren (Atrin) Assa of Durham, NC; son Ryan Petersburg and fiancée Jeanie Arnold of Washington, DC.; sister Susan (Kent) Butcher of Tulsa, OK; sister Lynn (Mark Greenspan) Petersburg of Alexandria, VA; sister-in-law Jennifer (Wil) James of Durham, NC; sister-in-law Cynthia (Rob) Eldridge of Atlanta, GA.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends on both sides of the family. Alan also adored playing with his two grandchildren Roman “Rumi” and Elena Assa. Alan was predeceased by his father Richard Petersburg (1990) and mother Jean Petersburg (2024).

Alan’s memorial celebration will be held on Friday June 20, 2025 at 2:00pm at Mitchell Funeral Home in Raleigh, NC. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to the Michael J Fox Foundation at .