Anthony E. Petrarca Ph.D

Anthony "Tony" Petrarca 94, of Columbus, Ohio passed away peacefully on February 2, 2024. He was born in 1929 in Providence, Rhode Island to the late Giovanni and Serafina Petrarca. He is reunited in heaven with his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Petrarca who preceded him in 2018. Dad was proud of the large Italian family from which he came. He was preceded in death by his brothers Ferdinando, Raphael, Mario, Felice, Leonardo, and Eli; and sisters Filomena and Anna. Surviving him are his daughter, Martina and her children Matthew and Theresa; daughter Aurelie; daughter Clare and her children Samantha and George (Nan); daughter Barbara (Matthew) and their children Geoffrey, Charles (Sarah), and Thomas (Courtney); Son Charles; Son Richard (Patricia) and their son A. J.; 2 great-grandchildren Beckett and Sophia; daughter-in-Christ Lisa Krick; his youngest sister Carmela along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was awarded his Doctorate Degree from the University of New Hampshire in Chemistry and moved to New Jersey where he taught Chemistry at Seton Hall. In 1964 he brought his family to Ohio to work at Chemical Abstracts and was instrumental in the development of the Computer Information Sciences Department at The Ohio State University where he retired from in 1992 as an Assistant Professor. He was acting chair of the department 1984 and 1985, he established an annual student scholarship with his personal funds under the name of ACM scholarship, most award recipients believed the scholarship directly came from ACM headquarters. He was a member of St. Michael's Parish attending the first mass in the church, June 10, 1964. He was an active steward in The St. Vincent de Paul Society, The Knights of Columbus as a 4th degree knight, Parish Festivals which he helped start back in 1977, Fish Fries, singing in the choir, assisting in the eucharistic ministry to name a few. He was proud of providing service to the aid of others and his legacy will remain in the memories of all who knew him. We will miss you dad, aka grandpa, aka Tony. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to The St Vincent de Paul Society via St Michael Parish Worthington Ohio. The family will receive condolences Saturday morning February 10, 2024 9:00am at St. Michael’s Church, Worthington Ohio, in Marion Hall. A celebratory mass to follow at 10:00am.

Anthony E. Petrarca Ph.D

July 24, 1929 - February 2, 2024