Daily Sitka Sentinel

Service Scheduled Feb. 9 For Donald ‘Donny’ Petro

Donald “Donny” Blair Petro

Donald “Donny” Blair Petro was a caring and generous father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He left this world suddenly on January 27, 2022, in Sitka at the age of 66.

Donny was born April 3, 1955, to Robert Petro and Margaret (Hope) Petro during a family trip to Detroit, Michigan. His birth was honored as a descendant of a long line of distinguished leaders of the Tlingit Kiks.ádi Raven Point House.

He was immersed in the community of Sitka by the Sea, which would become his lifelong support from an early age. Donny was a faithful member of Sitka and preferred a simple life exploring the beautiful outdoors of the Pacific Northwest while adopting a modest lifestyle of subsistence living.

He will be remembered for his talents as a master carpenter, much like his maternal grandfather, Andrew Hope, and his father Bob. As a young man, Donny traveled and explored several careers in Alaska. He worked as a commercial fisherman, Alaska pipeline worker, and cab driver before becoming a small business owner of Don’s Ceiling Company.  

He had many hobbies and was a skilled, self-taught culinary artist who loved spending time harvesting deer, salmon, herring eggs and other traditional Tlingit foods. As was the practice of generations before, he eagerly shared his harvest with the community and was well-known for his remarkable smoked salmon recipe, his charming, dimpled smile, and his gift of gab. 

He spent his spare time playing on pool leagues, gardening, studying foreign languages, driving a cab and enjoying volunteering his cooking or carpentry skills, whether at the local Elks Lodge, Moose Club or American Legion, and was well known for his uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way wherever he was needed.

Donny is survived by his long-time partner, Beryl Sheehan; daughter Chasady Didrickson; his grandchildren Kira Davis and Solaris Hoffay; his sisters Marcia (Mike) Lupro of Port Orchard, Washington, and Lisa Killinger, of Sitka; brother Steve (Pam) Petro of Port Orchard; and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, and his god-children Tor, Leon and Sean Barclay.

He was preceded in death by his former wife, Myra Lomay; and his parents Margaret (Hope) (Petro) McVey and Robert Petro.

Funeral services are scheduled noon Wednesday, February 9, at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, 605 Lincoln Street, followed by interment and last rites at the Sitka Memorial Park loop shelter at 803 Sawmill Creek Road.

Pallbearers will be Bob Sam, Al Borbridge, Don Anderson, Gerry Hope, Tor Barclay, Leon Barclay, Sean Barclay, and Sam Petro. Honorary Pallbearers are Steve Petro and Stan Filler Sr.