John Joseph Petrus

John Joseph Petrus, 80, of Mansfield, formerly of Willimantic and Columbia, died in his sleep on Sunday May 16, 2004 at the Rockville General Hospital. He was born Nov. 9, 1923 in the city of Lodzi, county of Wyrzysk, Poland. He was the third of four children to Albert and Nellie Pitrus of Willimantic and immigrated to the U.S. through Ellis Island at the age of 6. In the late 1930's he served as a paperboy for the Willimantic Chronicle. He was a graduate of Windham High School and served as class treasurer for 4 years. A very talented athlete, John was the baseball team captain, batting over.400. The school's basketball team, of which he was a member, won the Ct. State Championship in 1940-1941, with "Little Johnny" winning the game with a foul shot. The team was undefeated and untied. As a student at the Willimantic State Teacher's College (ECSC) he was the basketball team's top scorer in 1941-1942 in an undefeated season (14-0). He graduated with BS and MS degrees and received a 6th year Teaching Certificate from UConn. John was inducted into the ECSC Hall of Fame in Sept. 2002 as a "Pioneer In Early College Athletics". After enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War 2, he served in Atlantic City, Greely, CO., Cape Cod and Italy. He served in administrative duty in Europe and met Pope Pius XII in Rome. Upon returning home, he played semiprofessional baseball and basketball (White Eagle Team). John had a 35 year career in education. He taught for 12 years in the Bolton School System grades 7&8 math and science, 10 years at Bolton High School teaching Mathematics and served as the head of the dept. He also served as the Assistant Superintendent for 12 years in the Salem School System. John's involvement in the community included being a constable for the Town of Windham, president of the Columbia Lions Club (1977-1978), a lifetime member of the Pulaski American Citizens Club which his parents co-founded, an over 50 year member of the Willimantic Elks Lodge and a member of the VFW. John operated the Willimantic Massage Studio, worked at the A&P as a meat cutter, tested jet engines at Pratt & Whitney, owned the Park Spring Texaco Service Station for 10 years and sold real estate for Petrus Realty in Columbia with his wife Gerry. He and Geraldine Sroka were married on June 2, 1951. She died in 1990. John was also predeceased by their first son Jan Scott who died at the age of one and a sister Blanche Downes. In his last years, John lived with his son and daughter in law Robert and Laura Petrus of Mansfield and their children Elizabeth Ashley and Nicholas Kent. He is also survived by his older brother Matthew and his younger brother Ben, both in Florida. John was a modest man, reserved and easy going. He was a devoted husband and wonderful father. He was the ultimate team player, always selflessly putting whatever team he was on ahead of himself. His family will receive friends at the Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic on Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30am prior to his 11:00am Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St. , Willimantic. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Windham. His family suggests memorial donations to Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 Furnace St., Danielson, CT. 06339. Please visit at www.potterfh.com for online memorial guestbook and directions.