William “Bill” Petrie

William “Bill” Petrie, age 82 of Wayne, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. His loving family was gathered at his bedside when he passed.

Bill grew up in Paterson and graduated from the carpentry program at Passaic County Vo-Tech High School in Paterson. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Des Moines (CA-134), a heavy cruiser. He sailed throughout the Mediterranean Sea and kept an apartment in Nice, France. Needless to say, he truly enjoyed his time in the Navy. Upon his discharge, he returned to Paterson and began working for Hoffman LaRoche in Nutley, NJ. After encouragement from a colleague and mentor, Bill attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned his Bachelor’s Degree, all while working full-time and raising a family. Over time he served as Production Manager of many pharmaceutical production processes. Eventually, Hoffman-LaRoche moved much of their production to Scotland in the late 1990’s, during which time Bill was able to travel there several times as part of the transition team. Being of Scottish descent and an avid golfer, Bill was more than happy to help! He then retired after 42 years of service.

Bill was indeed a passionate golfer! He played at least three times per week for as long as his family can remember. As a thirty plus-year member of the Farmstead Golf & Country Club in Sparta, he had a standing tee-time of 7:10 am every Saturday, and he was there thirty minutes early, without fail! He had a single-digit handicap and sank four hole-in-one shots over the years. His low round was an even par at Farmstead. He was known as “The Puma” on the links, and he always carried his trusty “Birdie flask” filled with his favorite single malt scotch, Dalwhinnie 15. One of the most memorable golf trips he took was to Scotland. He played thirteen rounds of golf during his fourteen days there, including the St. Andrews Old Course, Royal Troon, and Carnoustie. While his kids were growing up, Bill’s favorite family summer vacation destination was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He loved that the kids had plenty of activities, the ocean was calm and the golf was abundant. He was also a long-time Yankees fan, rooting on the Bronx Bombers through good years and bad.

Bill met his wife, Doris Jochmann, after returning from the Navy. The two ended up on a double date, but with other people! Despite that, they made a connection and love prevailed. Bill proposed to her on Thanksgiving in 1962, just after finishing dinner at her parent’s home. They were married less than a year later, on September 21, 1963, at the Wallington Presbyterian Church. They honeymooned in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands before settling into their first home in Passaic Park. After that they lived in the Delawanna section of Clifton for about fifteen years before moving to Wayne in 1981. Bill and Doris created a loving home for their four children, complete with a pool in the backyard, an abundant garden, and a beautiful lawn that Bill loved tending to. Their house became the family hub and all their children and grandchildren have fond memories of spending time there. Doris and Bill recently celebrated their fifty-eighth wedding anniversary, and Doris describes those years together as “wonderful.” They traveled to forty-seven of the United States, and twenty-seven foreign countries. Bill’s favorite destinations included Alaska and Italy. Bill also enjoyed hosting Christmas Eve celebrations during which he would run his trains under the Christmas tree much to his grandkids’ delight. He also cooked a traditional Scottish Yorkshire pudding at Christmas (the only thing he could cook!), and he sure knew how to do it well! The family is already in discussions as to who will pick up that tradition and carry it onward as a part of Bill’s legacy.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Doris of Wayne, their four children: William Petrie and his wife Margaret of Blairstown, NJ, Robert Petrie and his wife Dana of Wayne, John Petrie and his wife Barbara of Flanders, NJ , and Kristen Attenello of Wayne, as well as seven grandchildren Siena, Holley, Nieve, Blaise, Tyler, Ian and Emma. Bill is also survived by his older brother George of Chester, NJ.