Gill Petri

Millham Gill Petri, of Iron Station, NC, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on Friday, September 5, 2025, at the age of 84. Gill was born in Rochester, NY on December 19, 1940, to the late Hanford and Dorothy Millham Petri. Gill was a proud Marine veteran and a career long educator in the science department at Pittsford Central Schools in New York, sharing his love of biology, ecology and horticulture both in and out of the classroom for over 35 years. His prized greenhouse, extensive gardens and maple syrup sugar shack, along with a classroom full of specimens, live animals and plants, were all highlights for his students that helped inspire a new generation of nature enthusiasts and conservationists that will carry on his legacy.

In his later years, Gill continued to connect with nature daily and spent countless hours gardening, bird watching and crafting beautiful, handmade walking sticks that he shared with family and friends. Today there are over 300 lovingly made walking sticks across the country that will continue to explore the trails, streams, lakes and woods which were so very special to him.

Along with his parents, Gill is preceded in death by his son Nicholas Petri. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Gail Groet Petri, his daughters Amy Joseph (Eric) of Vienna, VA and Erica Petri (Jim Arko) of Charlotte, NC, his four beloved grandchildren (Ryan, Cameron, Casey and Sydney Joseph), as well as his sisters Susan Locke (James) and Laurie Heise (Paul) and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Gill’s life will be held in the Spring in Rochester, NY, with details to be provided in the future. In lieu of cards and flowers, memorial donations in Gill’s memory may be made to The Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY at senecaparkzoo.org/give/. If you ever visit the zoo, you can view the remarkable life-sized metal sculpture of “Genny the Giraffe,” created by artist Jay Seaman and commissioned and donated to the zoo by Gill and Gail Petri.

Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.KepnerFH.com