Mourning the death of Floyd Todd Peterson III, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

Senate Resolution No. 2041

BY: Senator WEBB

        MOURNING  the  death of Floyd "Todd" Peterson III,
        distinguished citizen  and  devoted  member  of  his
        community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State  of  New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life  in  their  communities  and  this
great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS, Floyd "Todd" Peterson III of Ithaca, New York, died on July
30, 2021, at the age of 60; and

  WHEREAS,  Floyd Peterson distinguished himself in his profession and
by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
his community; and

  WHEREAS, A true performer at his core, Floyd Peterson  was  a  baton
twirler,  dancer,  model,  actor,  acrobat,  magician,  ice  dancer, and
puppeteer; and

  WHEREAS, Reaching great heights with his impressive range of skills,
Floyd Peterson was inducted into the Baton  Twirling  Hall  of  Fame  in
1994,  danced  in  the  Broadway  production  of "Cats" with Gregory and
Maurice Hines, and was  featured  in  music  videos  and  a  Dr.  Pepper
commercial; and

  WHEREAS,  Floyd  Peterson  worked  in  the  Poconos as a director of
theater at Camp Summit, performed at the New York State Fair, danced for
the Ithaca  Festival,  and  was  one  of  the  last  performers  at  the
Schoellkopf Field July 4th celebrations; and

  WHEREAS,  An admired educator, Floyd Peterson worked at every school
in the Ithaca School District, spending 38 years  with  students  in  an
array of positions; and

  WHEREAS, Floyd Peterson directed and choreographed musicals, and was
the founding choreographer of "Running To Places"; and

  WHEREAS,  With  a  belief in every individual he had the pleasure of
working with, Floyd  Peterson  shined  in  the  creation  of  performing
groups;  he  was  involved  with  Thunderbolts  Marching  Corps and Todd
Peterson  Dancers,  fostering  and   highlighting   the   abilities   of
individuals  from  all  walks  of  life,  regardless  of age, gender, or
disability; and

  WHEREAS, From 1988 to 2018, Floyd  Peterson  led  the  Ithaca  Youth
Bureau's  Stewart  Park Day Camp with warmth, creativity, and unwavering
passion; and

  WHEREAS, For his life of selflessness, leadership, and service,  the
new Picnic Pavilion at Stewart Park was dedicated to the memory of Floyd
Peterson on May 30, 2025; and

  WHEREAS,  This exceptional man, Floyd Peterson, influenced thousands
of kids throughout the decades, many of whom were his nieces and nephews
who loved their "Uncle Toddy," and he adored them in return; and

  WHEREAS,  Floyd  Peterson's commitment to excellence, and his spirit
of humanity, carried over  into  all  fields  of  enterprise,  including
charitable and civic endeavors; and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Floyd Peterson leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting  memory  to  all  he
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourning the death of Floyd "Todd" Peterson III; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Floyd "Todd" Peterson III.