Obituary of Dr. Anthony J. Petro

Anthony J. “Tony” Petro, 91, of Clifton Park, peacefully entered into eternal life on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn in Albany.

Tony was born in Waterbury, CT, the son of the late James Petro and Filomena (Petro) Reno.  Dr. Petro graduated from Trinity College with B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physical Chemistry, and earned a master’s degree (Organic Chemistry) and his PhD in Physical Chemistry from Princeton University. He was the beloved husband of the late Catherine Petro, whom he met when they were both students at the Fred Astaire Dance Academy in NJ.

During his career, Dr. Petro was a research chemist at Esso (Exxon Mobil), H.L. Mattin labs (an independent research firm for Revlon Products), Avon Products, and Mona Industries, retiring in 1996.  He is a named inventor on numerous U.S. patents for the development of industrial chemicals, cosmetics, and chemically engineered products including corrosion inhibitors, pearlescent pigment films and plastics, transparent candles,  and sunscreen protective factor (SPF) compounds.

While a resident of Mohegan Lake NY, Dr. Petro was elected a member of the Lakeland School Board twice, and served as its President. Following that service, he was campaign manager for the successful campaigns of other like-minded school board candidates.  Dr. Petro further served his community as an active parishioner of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, a leader for the Parishes’ Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop, and as treasurer of the Putnam Valley Lanes men’s bowling league. 

When not in his lab, or running Lakeland school board meetings, Tony enjoyed the outdoor activities of salt and freshwater fishing, crabbing, gardening, and golf; he was also an avid ballroom dancer (the jitterbug and various Latin steps were favorites), league bowler, electronic kit builder, amateur TV repairman, and jigsaw puzzle afficionado. Sudoku and crossword puzzles were also a minor passion, as was reading and grass-roots political commentary.

You would often find him with a hammer, saw or paint brush in his hands, doing repairs on his home, although more often he would cart those items to the home of a family member or friend, offering to pitch in on repair or renovation projects.

A family member or friend in need never waited long for Tony’s help, whether it was to build or repair something, or simply to draft a letter to the editor to help express another’s views or grievance.

He was a Member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, and the alumni societies at Trinity College and Princeton University. Most recently he was a communicant of St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park.

To say Tony was a lifelong, yet casual fan of the New York Yankees would be a masterpiece of understatement.

He was the exceptionally devoted father of John Petro and his wife Patricia (“Patty”) Petro of Clifton Park, the cherished grandfather of Christopher Petro, loving brother of Rosalie Petruzzi and the late Carmela “Carm” Petro, and proud uncle to Mark Petruzzi, Jr., Michael Petruzzi, Steven Petruzzi, Jeanne (Petruzzi) Dandrow, Lisa (Petruzzi) Wild, and James Petruzzi.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Mass of Christian Burial commending Tony to our heavenly Father on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 1pm at St. Edward the Confessor Church, 569 Clifton Park Center Rd., Clifton Park, NY 12065. A Gathering in Celebration of Life will take place at St. Edward Church at noon on November 19, immediately preceding Mass. THe visitation and Mass will be livestreamed beinning at 11:55 a., that morning by joining Zoom meeting link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88116233710?pwd=VEZScFQxcmFnRGdWMGZkYUpQazdFQT09

Meeting ID: 881 1623 3710
Passcode: 0565

The Petro family wishes to express their most sincere gratitude to Dr. James Craig and Clifton Park Family Practice, Doctors Thomas Kaley, Philip B. Paty and George Lai and their care teams at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Doctors Robert Benton and James O’Brien of Capital Cardiology for their dedicated, skilled and compassionate care of Tony for many years.

In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make memorial contributions to St. Peter’s Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany NY and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, in memory of Anthony J. Petro.

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