Dr. Dimitri M. Petro, 91, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and physician passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday April 15, 2026 at Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital. Born in Donora on November 30, 1934, Dr. Petro was the youngest child of Michael and Mary Petro who owned Petro's Bakery in Donora for 71 years.

Dr. Petro graduated from Donora High school in 1952 and attended the University of Pittsburgh. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1956, he then went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1960. During his tenure at Pitt, he served as president of the men's council, earned admittance into the Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary Fraternity and the Phi Rho Sigma medical fraternity. Having completed his internship at St. Francis Hospital, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. There he served for two years as a medical officer (lieutenant) stationed aboard the USS Proteus, a tender ship for nuclear missile submarines, in Holy Loch, Scotland, and the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.

Upon his honorable discharge, Dr. Petro returned to Donora and began his medical practice, working out of the Charleroi-Monessen Hospital, and later at Monongahela Valley Hospital. It was then that he met the love of his life, Pauline. The two were married in 1968 and together raised five children: Christine, Tom, Ted, Natalie, and Kyra.

Dr. Petro served Mon Valley Hospital in numerous capacities: on the executive committee of the medical staff, as Chairman of the Education and Library Committee, as mentor for numerous medical students from the University of Pittsburgh Community Medicine Department Summer Preceptorship Program, and as moderator for the annual Medical Education Symposium. In 1998, he was awarded the Sickman-Levin Award for community service. Dr. Petro worked tirelessly helping others and was always a passionate advocate for the nursing staff and patients at Mon Valley Hospital. Always dressed in a suit, Dr. Petro was the embodiment of a quintessential, small-town doctor, sporting his black doctor's bag and fedora.

Dr. Petro served as both school and football team physician for Charleroi Area High School (1963-67) and Ringgold High School (1967-2018). He was the longest serving employee in the Ringgold School District and was recognized by the district with an Alumni Award and induction into their Hall of Fame. The PA Athletic Trainers' Association recognized him with a 25 Year Service Award. His work as Ringgold's team physician became a family affair in 2014, when his son-in-law Nick Milchovich became the head football coach.

Dr. Petro joined Centerville Clinic at the age of 85 and retired from active practice a year and a half later in 2021, at the age of 86, following a 60 year career.

Perhaps most notable was Dr. Petro's love and dedication to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. It was here that he met Pauline, and shortly after their marriage, began directing the choir, a position he held for 56 years, passing down the position to his son-in-law Rob Montini. Dr. Petro's dedication to the church extended beyond Donora. He served on the Metropolitan Council for the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and was recognized as the OCA Diocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania 'Man of the Year' efforts supporting the church. Dr. Petro even won several national folk dancing competitions at church conventions with his daughters as dancing partners.

A life long lover of music, Dr. Petro began playing the Cello in high school and qualified for two state music festivals. In medical school, he was the Music Director and Co-Lyricist for the annual Medical School Class Production.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Mary (Stoycoff) Petro; his brother, Paul (Mary) Petro, Esq.; his sisters, Evangeline (John) Komondor and Evanthea (Gust) Scandary; Eugenia in infancy; and an infant grandson, Jack Zewe.

Dr. Petro is survived by his wife, Pauline (Drahushak) Petro, and his five children: Christine (Nick) Milchovich of Venetia; Tom (Shelley Ruttenberg) Petro of Pittsburgh; Ted (Joceline Champagne) Petro of Manchester, NH; Natalie (Rob) Montini of Canonsburg; and Kyra (Adam) Zewe of Pleasant View, UT.; his 10 grandchildren: Alexandra and Nicholas Milchovich; Russell and Rachel Petro; Jonah and Catherine Petro; Stephanie Montini; and Luke, Noah, and Will Zewe; and numerous nieces and nephews including Rebecca (Scandary) Kozak of Maplewood, NJ.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANTHONY L. MASSAFRA FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE INC., 40 Second St. Ext. Carroll Township/Donora, PA 15033, (724) 379-6900, where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026. A Parastas service will take place in the funeral home at 7 p.m. on Sunday. A Funeral Service will take place at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 1 St. Nicholas Drive, Donora, PA 15033 at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026. Those attending the service are asked to go directly to the church for 9:45 a.m. Monday. Interment will follow at Monongahela Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions in Dr. Petro's memory may be made to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 1 St. Nicholas Drive, Donora, PA 15033.