Throughout his life, Alan deeply valued and practiced honesty, integrity, generosity, and kindness, kindled with a steady, welcoming sense of humor. He was also lovingly devoted to his wife, Glenda Peterson, and two daughters, Silke and Jennica Peterson.
Alan grew up in Lincoln’s Bethany neighborhood, where he played “kick the can” and caught crawdads in the creek with his siblings and friends. As a proud Northeast High School “Rocket,” Alan joined the debate team and became a state debate champion.
Alan’s skill with words, speech, debate, and problem-solving—along with a lifelong passion for helping others—eventually led him to a career in law. Central to his work was a belief that every person has an equal right to express themselves freely, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He was also passionate about civil rights.
At the University of Nebraska, Alan received a B.A. in English with honors in 1962, followed by a Masters of Arts in English in 1963. Four years later, Alan graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska College of Law. Alan then became a law clerk to the Honorable Donald P. Lay, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, before joining the venerable Nebraska law firm of Cline, Williams, Wright, Johnson, & Oldfather.
Alan’s work at the law firm primarily focused on trial work, with emphasis in communications law, especially libel and slander cases, privacy issues, and access to information by the working press. He also worked on personal injury and contractual matters. In 1976, Alan was appointed as the attorney and lobbyist for a First Amendment–oriented coalition of Nebraska print and broadcast news media called “Media of Nebraska”; he represented the group for decades.
In his largest case, Alan served as lead counsel for the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Louisiana in a major federal lawsuit against Nebraska. This resulted in a verdict and eventual payment by Nebraska of about $151 million to those four states. It was found that Nebraska acted in bad faith in respect to its “Compact partner states” by refusing to take its turn in providing a disposal facility for low-level nuclear waste.
In 2005, Alan was elected to a fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers, considered one the highest honors a trial lawyer can receive. For many years, he was listed as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in the special area of First Amendment Law. He also served as a long-time director and, for two years, president of the Nebraska affiliate of the non-profit, non-partisan American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
While in law school, Alan helped a spirited, smart, kind journalism grad student change her car’s flat tire. Glenda (Woltemath) became his wife a few months later. They were married for more than 50 years.
At their lovely home in Lincoln, Alan enjoyed working beside Glenda while tending their vibrant perennial garden and koi pond. He spent time fully appreciating Nebraska’s nature and wildlife, including the owls, frogs, and foxes in his own backyard. As an engaged, loving parent, Alan instilled a sense of magic in everyday life with his children, partnering closely with the tooth fairy and Santa Claus and fostering kid-led “free days” off from school. He handbuilt a large playhouse for his daughters and an epic swing that he hung from a tall elm tree. It delights kids of all ages to this day.
Alan also enjoyed shooting hoops, golfing, fishing for the elusive “Big One” in the South Loup River, dining at The Oven, and listening to music, especially Nina Simone, Elvis Presley, and the classical music masters. After retirement, he and Glenda explored the backroads, shared beers in small-town bars, and hunted for morel mushrooms and special garden rocks. Alan was also a talented self-taught artist who created fine watercolor replicas of Johannes Vermeer paintings. Whether in literature, music, movies, or art, he sought out and admired the complex-yet-ethereal details that made a work wonderfully human and alive.
Even in the final years of his meaningful life, Alan desired to be of service to others. He continued to use his keen mind to puzzle through difficult problems, his caring heart to help those in need, and his clever sense of humor to bring a smile to anyone who crossed his beautifully crafted path.
Alan is survived by his daughters, Silke Peterson and Jennica Peterson (Michael Vance); granddaughter Vida Rose Peterson Vance; brother Gene Peterson (Sabita Peterson); sister Sue Curtis (Vernon Curtis); sister Shirley Meyer; brother Larry Peterson (Julie Peterson); and multiple nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by his parents and wife, Glenda Peterson.
Private family burial. Celebration of Life at a later date in the spring.
Memorial donations may be made to the ACLU Foundation.