Roger Petrella

Roger Victor Petrella Jr., unexpectedly passed away on April 15, 2024 at the age of 72. Roger was born February 14, 1952, in Rochester, Pennsylvania to Roger V. Petrella Sr. and Edna (Nale) Petrella. Roger was the eldest of their seven children.

Roger attended Theil College in Pennsylvania and obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology and industrial hygiene. After graduation Roger enlisted in with the United States Air Force as and served from 1975 – 1981 as an Environmental Health Specialist. It was with this education and service record that brought Roger and his family to his beloved home in Colorado in 1983.

In Colorado Roger was one of the leading industrial hygienists that partnered with the EPA to in 1997 to begin the massive cleaning and restoration of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, which was turned into a wildlife sanctuary in 2004.

Over his lifetime, Roger was a history enthusiast with a special love and fondness for the fur trade/mountain man way of life. Roger loved to attend rendezvous, muzzle loader shooting events and after moving to Colorado he became an active member and leader for the Colorado Muzzle Loader Association and held the title of editor of the Poke and Stroke Magazine. Roger loved the buck skinning way of life so much he considered giving up his career and just travel the rendezvous circuit around the country.

Roger was also quite the hobbyist with interests in any things he could create or build. He loved his American Flyer trains and building layouts for his trains to come to life. If he wasn’t playing with his trains, he could be found in his workshop tinkering with tools. There wasn’t anything ‘Dad couldn’t build or fix’. However, he will always be remembered as a giant child at heart and collector of all things ‘cool’.

Roger was active in his children’s lives but more importantly, he was a beloved Papa to his 8 grandchildren. Roger is survived by his mother Edna (94), his son Benjamin Joseph Petrella (44) and his daughter Janelle Marie (Gray) Petrella (43). Roger will be remembered as a great friend, father, Papa and Uncle that touched and impacted many lives throughout his journeys.

Donations are being accepted and will be donated to English Springer Spaniel Rescue of America (ESRA) where his last canine companion was rescued from; they were always his favorite breed to own. His beloved train collection will be donated to associations and model train museums across the country. For more information, or to donate please contact Janelle directly.

Roger's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.