Robert Bernard Petro, known as "Bobby" to friends and family, a long-time resident of Center Valley, PA passed away at the age of 76, on December 5th, 2012.
Bobby's life reflected the principles of the Shakers, whose furniture and lifestyle he deeply admired: Live life with simplicity and honesty through fine craft.
He was a true artisan. A master builder. A collector, historian, and storyteller. His pursuits from custom auto-body work, to woodworking, to antiquing spoke volumes about his true love and understanding of the word craftsmanship.'
These traits made him as endearing as he was eclectic and, at times, a real pain in the
He was always ready with a tale of adventure or, more correctly, a misadventure.' He would welcome people in with a simple: "wanna have one [beer]?"
And, that was typically followed some time later with a "so you wanna have one more?"
So then, here's one more for the road and Bobby:
Bobby was born in 1936. He was the son of George Petro and Anna Krakosky. He grew up in a home of four brothers and a sister; his father was a miner, his mother a housewife. His childhood was spent in northeastern Pennsylvania where his passions for early American antiques and Hot Rods took root.
As a teen, Bobby spent time helping his brother at his Bakery in New Jersey running baked good in and around the tri-state area. During this time he also began working on cars as a mechanic and "body-man."
Bobby would later move on to enlist and serve in the Navy as part of the Seabees. Their motto, Construmus Batumius, or We Build, We Fight, reflected his approach on most every aspect of his life. He was a fighter, always. No challenge was too great, or too trivial for his attention.
Their spirit and his is succinctly encapsulated in their slogan: "Can do."
Post his enlistment, Bobby returned to northeastern PA and wed Frances Simoniatis after a long and tumultuous courtship [her words]. Fran would go on to be an executive at Stanley Vidmar; together they were a real life Sandy and Danny from Grease a perfect compliment of rebel and professional. Together, Bobby and Fran would leave the mining towns of Luzerne and travel south to Allentown.
During that time Bobby continued to work in auto-body repair, where he was widely regarded as one of the best in the area. They would run an antique business on the side. Always in search of new treasures, their travels would take them up and down the North East Corridor in search of new finds accompanied most often by his brother Eddy, and wife Barbara. Many of those treasures remain in his collection today, their stories and memories intact. Together, with the other Petro siblings, they spent their summers at Harvey's Lake with friends and family.
Bobby and Fran would later go on to live in Center Valley and own one of the most iconic stone farmhouses in the area. A house and barn constructed in the early 1800's and their first home. However, with the arrival of a son on the way, Bobby laid plans for his greatest challenge and adventure: A new home for the family.
This house, affectionately named the "Parson Bernard Home," would become his legacy and a showcase of his craftsmanship.
Throughout the last three decades of his life, he remained diligently committed to crafting every last detail of the home its bones, blueprinted from a historic home in Connecticut. Its heart of five fireplaces each crafted to exacting specification. It's body and skin: flooring he painstakingly recovered, salvaged, and reclaimed from other period homes; an impressive and rustic roof crafted of slate. And finally, its undeniable soul: a lifetime of antique treasures as rich and as varied as Bobby himself. Each one an adventure he shared with his family and friends.
For everyone who shared in the journey that was Bobby's life and his home, the family sincerely thanks you. Your memories and stories are now and forever a part of its walls. It will always remain in the family as a testament to one man's relentless pursuit of his dreams, ideals, and convictions.
The Parson Bernard Home will continue his legacy, a permanent member of the Petro family now under the stewardship of his son Justin. Who remains adamant that, like his father: "It will be done when I say it is."
Bobby is survived by his son, Justin; Brother Edward; Lady Friend Judy; numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Services: 11:00 AM, Monday, December 10th, 2012, at Norcross Weber Funeral Home, 101-B N. Main St., Coopersburg. Viewing: 10AM, Monday until time of services at the funeral home. Burial at Saint Ann's Cemetery, Dallas, PA on Tuesday, December 11th, 2012 at 11am. (www.weberfuneralhomes.com)
Contributions: In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, www.history.org.