Cavaliers to Honor the late Henry 'Punch' Peterson with Helmet Sticker

This season, the Virginia men’s lacrosse program will honor former UVA captain Henry “Punch” Peterson (’61) by donning a special punch emoji sticker on the back of the team’s new white helmets. Peterson passed away in late August of 2021 just as the Hoos were preparing for their Fall season. Head coach Lars Tiffany described Peterson as one of the most passionate and dedicated UVA Lacrosse fans that he’s ever known, and a man who had a “heart full of gold.” Peterson frequently attended games at Klöckner Stadium and would organize his plans around the Cavaliers’ season schedule each Spring. He visited with the team as recently as April of 2021. Peterson was recruited by former UVA head coach and ACC Commissioner, and his lifelong friend Gene Corrigan. Passionate about the game of lacrosse, Peterson went on to serve as a member of the search committee that hired former Virginia head coach Dom Starsia. A First Team All-American selection in 1961, Peterson also served on the Board of Directors for US Lacrosse and was inducted into the Virginia Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1997), Baltimore Lacrosse Hall of Fame (1998) and St. Paul’s (Md.) School For Boys inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2008.

Peterson’s nickname “Punch” stems from the puppet show Punch and Judy. His older sister’s name was Judy, and when the same nurse who helped deliver Judy Peterson also helped deliver Henry Peterson, the nurse told his mother, “now you have Punch and Judy.” The nickname stuck with him ever since the day he was born.

In the latter stages of his life, Peterson wore a pacemaker due to a heart condition. While attending Virginia’s home game against Syracuse in 2021, Peterson claimed that his heart stopped for approximately 15 seconds before his pacemaker reignited his heartbeat. Rumor has it that it was only until after the conclusion of the game that Peterson opted to check himself into the hospital.