Robert Peterjohn; Began Aerofit Products

Robert Peterjohn, an engineer who helped design special parts for the first manned mission to the moon, died Tuesday from complications of pneumonia and a stroke. He was 72.

Peterjohn helped develop fasteners for hydraulic tubing that could withstand extremely high pressures in airplanes and spacecraft when he worked as chief engineer of Aircraft Fitting Co. in Florida.

In 1969, he struck out on his own, opening Aerofit Products Inc. in Buena Park, which became known for its ability to manufacture, design and test fittings. The 145-employee company has contracts with such aerospace firms as Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp.

“We’re unusual, in that customers can call us up if they need something special, because we can work on the design and testing,” said Dale Gordon, Aerofit’s director of operations. “That’s the side of the business that Peterjohn liked.”

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Peterjohn grew up with varied interests--collecting butterflies in the parks around his home, fencing and painting portraits and landscapes. His interest in the arts continued throughout his life. He knew jazz and classical music and often attended operas, ballets and plays, Gordon said.

After a brief Army stint after World War II, Peterjohn returned to Cleveland, where he majored in physics at Case Institute of Technology. He met his wife, Myrna, in 1960 at the Fort Lauderdale Little Theater where she was acting and he served on the board of directors.

Gordon said his boss enjoyed fiddling to find innovations and always kept up with scientific advancements. “He didn’t run the business to make a ton of money. He enjoyed keeping the lab and engineering going so he could tinker with things.”

Peterjohn is survived by his wife, daughters Holly Lopes and Christine Hampton, grandchildren Christine Lopes and Corey Anderson, and a brother, Glenn Peterjohn.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Westminster Memorial Park.