Edward D. Petty
Edward D. Petty, affectionately known as “Skipper” to close family and friends, left this world on May 11, 2024. He exited in the same manner he entered; bold, determined, unassuming, and brave. Along with his billfold, he always carried an opinion in his pocket and was generous in doling them out. He was a man of principle, unwavering in what he held to be true. Ed’s disdain for laziness, reckless spending, and unnecessary waste was in equal proportion to his immense love for tulips in the spring, Morgan horses, antique furniture, traveling abroad, and the Adirondacks. Although never proven, it was rumored that Ed’s ticket to social invitations was his irresistible dinner rolls. No family dinner, church potluck, or holiday dinner was complete without them.
Born September 30, 1947, in Malone, NY, Ed was son to Ferne Hastings and Clarence Petty. After graduating from Canton High School, Ed continued his education at St. Petersburg Community College and then went on to graduate from Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio with a BA in sociology. As a member of Phi Mu Delta, he made friends that would be forever etched on his heart. Ed’s love for teaching took him to Casstown, Ohio, where he taught Economics, Sociology, History, Psychology, and Geography for 28 years at Miami East High School. In addition to classroom instruction, Ed was a class advisor, and he was loved as a Cross-Country coach for the resilient example he set. Sundays were spent at Trinity Episcopal Church in Troy, Ohio where he served on vestry, as a lay leader, and as chalice bearer. But there were times when skipping was necessary, and on those sunny days Ed could be found riding his registered Morgan gelding, Rockview Woodstock, on a back country road.
Travel was important to Ed, not just because he wanted to see pretty sights, but because he was eager to gain a broader understanding of diverse cultures and customs. His travels began as early as 1968 with a trip to Spain with other university students. In 1970 he enjoyed England, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. In 1984 he visited 5 of the 15 Republics of the USSR with a Comparative Education Seminar group made up of doctors, nurses, and teachers. His adventures provided him with experiences that were easily shared and resulted in lively classroom debate and discussion. He returned to Russia multiple times, and later in life enjoyed Italy, France, Ireland, and Austria.
After retiring from Miami East High School, Ed returned to his roots and the love of his life, the Adirondacks. He taught 2 more years at Saranac Lake High School before hanging his hat up for good. He assumed residence in his childhood home in Canton, NY, and dazzled locals with his beautiful gardens in the summer and his splendid Christmas light display in December. His pasture was once again filled with the high spirits of another Morgan horse, Minuteman, and his feisty, irreverent sidekick, Double Trouble; a miniature pony that would not leave Minuteman’s side. He was a member of the Canton Garden Club and was a parishioner at both St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Saranac Lake and Trinity Episcopal church in Potsdam. Ed enjoyed spending summers like he had as a child: at Corey’s on the Stony Creek Ponds.
The Petty family has a rich Adirondack history and Ed proudly carried the legacy that his father, Clarence Petty, and grandfather, Ellsworth Petty began. He was a walking encyclopedia and a family historian. An articulate storyteller, he kept the past relevant and interesting and carefully marked family heirlooms with the delicate touch of a museum curator. Ed carried the torch of his father and grandfather, but he leaves behind his own impressive and unique heritage that cannot be ignored. His unwavering love for the conservation and preservation of the Adirondacks burned in his veins and his footprint will be seen, heard, and remembered by the generations that follow. His enthusiastic support of the Adirondack Nature Conservancy and the Wild Center was a testimony to his unwavering love and dedication to what he held dear.
Ed is preceded in death by his parents, Ferne (nee Hastings) and Clarence Petty, and his brother, Don Petty. Ed is survived by his brother, Dick Petty, who currently resides in Arizona.
A celebration of Life will take place at St. John’s in the Wilderness-Paul Smiths on Sunday, August 18th at 2:00 pm. A time of memory and sharing will follow at the Wild Center-Tupper Lake at 3:45pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Wild Center, The Adirondack Nature Conservancy, or Trinity Episcopal Church in Potsdam, NY.
