Clarese Adele Peterson

Clarese Adele Peterson, a longtime resident of Southmont and New York City, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 4th, of natural causes while under hospice care at Laurel View Village in Davidsville, PA. She had been a resident there since 2023.

Born on January 28, 1936, Clarese was the daughter of Katherine Korns Peterson and Edward Andrew Peterson. Her mother’s family founded the C.C. Korns Company, a cornerstone of the Johnstown business community. Her grandfather, C.C. Korns, was a prolific inventor and entrepreneur whose work in anodized conduit supports left a lasting impact on industrial design and earned him numerous patents. His company grew into an international enterprise, and his pioneering spirit clearly influenced Clarese’s own creative journey.

Clarese grew up in Southmont and graduated from Southmont High School. She held fond memories of flying in small planes with her father, a pilot, and spent much of her early life immersed in the arts. She studied dance at the Eleanor Oliver Studio in downtown Johnstown, sparking a lifelong appreciation for movement, color, and expression.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh (now Carnegie Mellon University), and pursued graduate studies at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City. There, she flourished as an interior designer and became a key member of the architectural firm Prentice & Chan, Ohlhausen. Working closely with principal Lo-Yi Chan, Clarese contributed to numerous landmark projects, including Connecticut Hospice—the first hospice in the United States—where she focused on interiors designed to support healing and comfort. Her other notable work included the Roosevelt Island Tram Station and Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College.

Known for her sensitivity to light and color, Clarese brought a deep understanding of how design affects the human spirit. Her work reflected not only technical skill, but a profound empathy for those who would inhabit the spaces she helped create.

Beyond design, Clarese was an advocate for organic food. She founded The Food Workshop, a New York City organic restaurant, which also included an adjoining organic grocery. Her interests and pursuits were wide-ranging—she traveled often to India both for pleasure and as part of a textile business she co-founded.  Her love for Indian culture, craft, and tradition deeply informed her aesthetic sensibility.

In the late 1990s, Clarese returned to Johnstown to care for her father, who passed in 2001. She eventually made her home on Palliser Street in Southmont, where she remained connected to her roots and community. She advised on several local design projects, collaborated with the Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, and was active in the Cambria County Community Arts Center alongside her dear friend, Rose Mary Hagedus.

Clarese is survived by her sister, Jeremy Peterson and Adam Stoltman, of New York City. Her family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at Laurel View Village for their care and kindness, and to the many friends and extended family members who enriched her life.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date

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