Matthew Harrison Petersohn, Chain Publisher of Philadelphia Suburban Weeklies, Dead at 83

By: E&P Staff Matthew Harrison Petersohn, who founded the Progress Newspapers chain of weeklies in suburban Philadelphia, has died, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Petersohn, 83, died of liver failure Sunday, March 28, at his home in Wyndmoor, the paper reported in an obituary by Sally A. Downey.

Petersohn and his father, Ralph, launched in the chain in 1953. After his father?s death in 1983, Petersohn headed the chain, whose properties include the Bucks County Telegraph; the Progress of Montgomery County; the Bucks County Tribune; and the Far Northeast Citizen Sentinel.

He ran the business until illness forced him to retire in December 2008.

In addition to Sandra Leedes Petersohn, his wife of 58 years and his son, Petersohn is survived by a daughter, Jessica Medaille; two sons, Steven and Michael; four brothers; a sister; and six grandchildren.