Beginning her career in Redwood’s very own Little Theater, American artist, author and illustrator Paige Peterson graduated in 1973. She developed a passion for acting within Redwood’s drama program.
“I remember auditioning for the musical ‘Carnival’ and I got into the chorus and that’s how [my acting career] started — [in] that Little Theater,” Peterson said. “Whenever I drive by Redwood, I look at that theater, and I think [about how] it shapes people’s lives. I did every musical every year. It really launched me into that kind of world.”
After finishing high school, she began traveling the country with actor Vivian Vance, performing in her shows “Marriage-Go-Round” and “Harvey.” After working with Vance, Peterson’s acting career quickly flourished, and by the age of 17, she became a professional actor. Unfortunately, shortly after her career emerged, Peterson began experiencing anxiety and loss of sight while filming on set.
She was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent surgery. While recovering, Peterson returned to art, giving her peace during a tumultuous time.
“I got home from the hospital [with] 57 staples in my [shaved] head [and] I started drawing. I’d always drawn, I’d always painted [and] I’d always sold my work, but I [decided] I was really going to start to do it [professionally],” Peterson said.
Although her acting career had ended, she blossomed as an author and artist. Peterson went on to write five books, including “Black Beauty” and an award-winning story, “The Secret Garden.” She also worked with Christopher Cerf on the best-selling children’s book “Blackie, The Horse Who Stood Still” which told the story of the horse from Tiburon’s Blackie’s Pasture.
However, Peterson’s career stretched beyond her passion for storytelling. After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer shortly after her brain tumor, she began working with John Huntsman, who founded the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, eventually becoming Executive Vice President of the foundation. She never anticipated joining the foundation but believes when opportunities come, it’s important to embrace them.
“[My mother] said to me, ‘You’re the kind of person that people are going to knock on your door. The question is, will you be ready to walk through the door when they knock on it?’ All my life, I’ve always thought about that,” Peterson said. “I’ve always ‘walked through the door’ whether I was ready or not and then all these marvelous things happened to me.”
As Executive Vice President of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Peterson visited Saudi Arabia many times to provide support for cancer patients. She now sits on the National Council of United States-Arab Relations. Her experience in the Arab world has inspired her to write extensively about Middle Eastern culture. Despite her experiences across the world, she has always returned to her Redwood roots. This year, the Alumni Association honored Peterson in the Avenue of Giants.
Dana Garrick, a member of the association, nominated Peterson, noting her positive contributions to the community.
“[The association members] really push more toward people who give back. It could be attorneys, it could be scientists — people who are pioneers in their field,” Garrick said.
Peterson fits these criteria. Her expertise in many artistic fields, paired with her work for Huntsman Cancer Foundation and her position on the council of United States-Arab relations, makes her stand out among thousands of Redwood alumni.
“[Peterson] is an illustrator, an artist [and] a philanthropist [who] does a lot of civil work that helps humanity on a big scale,” Garrick said. “A really exceptional person, she takes the air out of the room wherever she goes.”
Susan Cheever, an American author and friend of Peterson, admires Peterson’s wide-ranging talents, from being an author who worked in Saudi Arabia to throwing lavish dinner parties.
“[Peterson] does everything in a very original, unusual, surprising and delightful way, whether it’s giving a dinner party, going to the Middle East or writing about women’s place in Saudi Arabia,” Cheever said.
Being honored by the association is a great achievement, especially for Peterson, who believes her dreams began at Redwood’s Little Theater with her first audition for the drama program. After leaving the school’s walls, she pushed through adversity in her personal and professional life to create the successful career she has today.
“Redwood made all of my dreams come true in that little theater, and they were really kind to me because I wasn’t a great student. They still lifted me up,” Peterson said.
