Patrick Petroff

On September 18, 2025, Patrick D. “Pete” Petroff of Medina, Ohio passed away at the age of one hundred. He was one of the sixty-six thousand World War II veterans left of the 16.4 million Americans who served. It was a wonderful life.

Pete’s parents came to the U.S. in the early 1900s to Akron, Ohio from Struga and Dolno Brodi, Macedonia. He lived in Akron most of his life. He graduated from Akron Garfield High School and then attended Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland on full scholarship where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity. But his chemical engineering studies there were interrupted by WW II, where he served in the U.S. Army as a Corporal, earning several medals.

After returning from the war, since his father had passed, he became the man of the family and had to provide for his mother and sister. To do so, like his father, he built a tavern, the Firestone Park Café, and ran it for more than four decades in South Akron. He was old-school: horned-rimmed glasses, bowtie, white short-sleeved shirt, and white apron, always serving with a smile, a funny story, or a clever joke. His customers truly loved him. His cheeseburgers, made with the best ingredients he could get, were legendary.

He married his beloved Mildred Misheff in 1954 and was a devoted husband for nearly sixty years until she passed in 2014. He was also the cherished father of Patricia Marie, Dimitre James, and Elaine Paula, a grandfather, and a great grandfather too.

At the same time, he was a founding board member of St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church in 1959. He served as the church’s longtime Treasurer and then was elected five times as its President. During his tenure, he helped get built a new, beautiful St. Thomas church in Fairlawn, Ohio. In 2019, at the age of ninety-four, Pete received a Meritorious Service Award from the Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox church for a lifetime of work for the church.

Moreover, he was also a founding member of the Macedonian Business Club in the 1950s and was its longest serving member. The club awarded him its Man of the Year Award in the 1990s. At the time, he told the Akron Beacon Journal newspaper in an article his award entitled “Man of the Year Exhibits Modesty in Face of Award” that his only “ambition” was: “To see his relatives in war torn Yugoslavia safe, and to see the freedom of Macedonia.” His wish came true.

In life, Pete made friends with everyone he met. Because of this, like in the classic movie “It’s a Wonderful life,” he was thus the “richest man in town,” touching everyone in some way. People all over Akron and the world will remember his friendship, service to others, and truly sweet demeanor. In life and death, he set an example for all of us.

Pete is survived by children Dr. Patricia Marie Petroff (Dr. John Kline), Dimitre James Petroff J.D. (Ann Marie), and Elaine Paula Badalamenti (Dr. Vito Badalamenti); grandchildren Niko Badalamenti, Kate Petroff, Alex Petroff, Sarah Bakigoba, Samantha Rubino (Miguel Daza), Jeanette Blakeway (Kurt), and great-grandson Jay Blakeway.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dimith and Rayna Petroff, wife Mildred, and sister Nayda Dodovich.

Heartfelt thanks to all those who helped care for Pete during his advanced age.

Visitation will be Saturday, September 27, 2025, at St. Thomas Eastern Orthodox Church, 555 South Cleveland-Massillon Road, Fairlawn, Ohio, 44333 at 10:00 a.m. until noon. Funeral services will follow that day at the church with the Fr. Vlado Bakurdzhiev and Fr. Dragi Trpeski officiating. A luncheon will follow at the church.

Interment with Military Burial Honors will be at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio at a later date.

Donations can be made to the church.