Rosalind Mae Petro "Roz"

Born to Eli and Ruth Steffy on July 28, 1938 in Syracuse, New York. Died on March 9, 2026 in Tacoma, Washington at the age of 87. Roz grew in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she was an exceptionally active kid. In high school she played in band, performed in school plays, swam competitively, and traveled to Greece in an exchange program. In 1956, she graduated from Southwest High and traveled the country as a synchronized swimming performer for the Aqua Follies. While studying theater and literature at the University of Minnesota, she met Richard "Dick" Petro. They were married in 1959 and migrated west, first to Boise, Idaho and then to Portland, Oregon. She continued college while he worked as an industrial arts teacher. In 1961, Roz obtained a Bachelor's Degree from Portland State College and followed Dick's example to begin a career as a teacher. Soon, they had their first son and she chose to stay at home to raise her growing family.

In 1967, Roz and Dick moved with their three toddlers to settle in University Place, Washington. When they arrived, they set about making friends in their new neighborhood and at Aldersgate United Methodist Church (later United Church in University Place). In the absence of local relatives, they established themselves in a community that became their extended family.

She loved her husband of 55 years very much. They were an inseparable team. Together they supported their three boys through college, marriage, and raising families. As an avid spectator of kid's sports, she would rush home from work to watch soccer, softball, track, cross country, rowing, lacrosse, and cheerleading. She would always go out of her way to attend and to contribute to the activities of her children and grandchildren.

When her kids were all of school age, Roz took a class in Women's Studies at Tacoma Community College. Afterwards the instructor asked her to teach it and she became an advocate for the Women's Liberation Movement. She proceeded to resume her teaching career in Tacoma Public Schools where eventually she landed a full-time job at Gray Middle School. Years went by before she settled into her preferred position teaching advanced English and literature at Wilson High where she until she retired in 2002.

With summers off as teachers, Roz and Dick enjoyed outdoor activities with their kids. They tent camped all around Western Washington, down the coast to the Oregon Dunes and California, and across the country to Minnesota with their kids. With an empty nest, they continued hiking through meadows of wildflowers on Mt. Rainier, fishing for salmon on Puget Sound, razor clamming at the Pacific coast, and picking chanterelle mushrooms in the Olympic rainforest. Eventually they gave up their tent for a casino hotel.

Roz and Dick often entertained guests from out-of-town and were always happy to give them a place to stay, something homemade to eat, and to lead them on a tour of local attractions. The consummate hostess, Roz was always ready to organize and host events for family and friends. She would cook a meal and make a big deal about every birthday, holiday, or personal accomplishment. She was always concerned that everyone had been fed and had anything they needed to be comfortable. Roz just enjoyed having everyone get together.

Roz and Dick regularly traveled to Minnesota to visit relatives and old friends. They wandered together to British Columbia, Hawaii, Alaska and New Zealand. In their retirement, they travelled every year to see the sights in a new city selected for the annual gatherings of Dick's old army buddies. Roz travelled to her bi-annual "girlfriends" get togethers of old schoolmates from Minneapolis.

She loved to write and was constantly sending cards and letters to keep in touch with family and friends across the country. She was an avid reader and very proud of her extensive vocabulary. In her later years, after Dick passed away, she would sit in her favorite chair, with a good book in her hands, her kitties in her lap, and her 1940's dictionary by her side.

Her last two years, Roz lived at Franke Tobey Jones in Tacoma where she let the staff worry that she had been fed and had anything she needed to be comfortable. Of course, she made new friends in her new home, and they became part of her extended family.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard and her brother Bill. She is survived by her sisters Carol and Marian, sister-in-law Ann, sons Alan (Angela), Brian (April), Gary (Sophia), grandchildren Traci, Tomas, Julie, Elizabeth, Chloe, Cassie, Nikki, Sydney, and nine great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12-4pm on Sunday, April 12th, 2026 in the Wellness Center at Franke Tobey Jones, 5340 N Bristol St, Tacoma, WA 98407. Flowers are welcome or donations can be made to Franke Tobey Jones Employees Appreciation Fund c/o Philanthropy Office at the above address (note on check: EAF in memory of Roz Petro). Please sign the guestbook at www.newtacoma.com.