Claremont Leland Pederson

Claremont L. “Pete” Pederson was born December 17, 1925, in Starbuck, Minnesota to the late Leonard and Clara Pederson. He graduated from Starbuck High School, joined the U.S. Navy for three and a half years. He went to the West Coast Sound School in San Diego, CA, during WWII served on the USS PC-586 (a submarine chaser) as a Sonar Technician stationed at Pearl Harbor in 1943 and the USS APc-44. After the Navy, he attended Fargo College in North Dakota to study Electronic Engineering. Upon completing two years of college, he joined the U.S. Army Security Agency for five plus years. He married the love of his life, Emily Canard on April 1, 1951, in Warrenton, VA. They enjoyed 71 years of wedded bliss. He joined the Central Intelligence Agency in February 1953 and retired from the CIA as an Electronic Engineer in January 1979. For a few years, he worked in the Private Sector as a Contractor Employee until 1980. Later he went back to the CIA as a Contract Employee until he officially retired in 1992.

Throughout his career, he held various specialized communication positions as a supervisor and manager. He completed two major projects, first starting preliminary engineering and signal analysis investigations. He helped install a unique high-speed tape-recording system for the Berlin Tunnel and for this effort; he was presented with the Agency’s Intelligence Medal of Merit.

His second project for the next 14 years was in support of the Agency’s Communications Security program. He started the Agency’s first TEMPEST test laboratory to initiate and monitor testing techniques and study programs. His work involved several iteration specifications, beginning with NAG-1A thru Federal Standard 222, then the NACEM 5100 series by the time he retired. He worked with the military and other government civilian agencies to build room-within-a-room enclosures that fully shielded electronic emanations and installed in critical locations. He received his second Intelligence Medal of the Merit from the Agency.

Pete enjoyed working with his hands, from adding a family room on to the back of the house, to adding a sunroom and remodeling the patio. He enjoyed putting together tv’s through Heath kits, building tv’s for the neighbors, and built a small organ for the house. His passions included woodworking and stained glass; he built a desk, rocking horse, stained glass lamps, and a picture window glass.

Being a hands-on person, he took Adult Education Classes in HVAC, Plumbing, Masonry and even Chinese Cooking. Through those courses, it gave him the knowledge to repair and install parts for the Furnace, AC and dabbled into the pipes and faucets. Weekends, he spent time cooking delicious Chinese food.

In his spare time, he was an avid bowler with the St. John’s Church League. Later, he bowled on the league with his daughter Patti. He belonged to the Mt. Carmel Masonic Lodge and transferred to Elmer Timberman Lodge.

Pete and Emily enjoyed traveling and going on cruises. They went on 35 cruises from the Caribbean to the Panama Canal. Going with the neighbors, family and friends, they met on cruises. Later in life, they spent time at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Pete was a big sports fan and went to majority of his grandson (Michael’s) baseball, soccer, football, swimming and diving events. He was also a big Commanders and Nationals fan.

Pete is survived by his wife, Emily, daughters Patricia Parker & Deborah Pederson, grandson Michael (Rachel) Parker, and great granddaughter’s, Adriana and Alicia. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Charles (Susie) Canard, sister-in-law, Carol Ann (Robert) Rankin and nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be on Saturday, November 26 at 2:00pm at St. John’s UMC, 5312 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22151 followed by a Reception at Demaine Funeral Home 5308 Backlick Road Springfield, VA 22151- across the street, from 3:00pm -5:00pm.

In lieu of sending flowers, please feel free to make a donation in the name of Claremont “Pete” Pederson to St. John’s UMC, American Heart Association or Goodwin Hospice.