Roberta Petznick

Roberta Morrison Stone Petznick was born Sept 17, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents Robert Greydon Stone and Phyllis Lieghley Stone raised her in Shaker Heights. She was salutatorian of her Aurora High School class, and she earned a history degree from Denison University. Her first job was in medical research with Dr Frederick Law Olmsted at the Cleveland Clinic. With deep roots in Ohio and New England,Roberta loved history and books. She married James Franklin Petznick of Shaker Heights in Aurora, Ohio, on January 30, 1965. As newlyweds Roberta and James lived in Chagrin Falls, but work led James to Vanderbilt in Nashville where the young couple moved to raise a family. Their son James GreydonPetznick, architect of Shaker Heights, and daughter Laura Ware Stone Petznick, museum director, also of Shaker Heights were born and raised in TN.

A dedicated wife and mother, Roberta's passion for beauty and love of history led her to be a Trustee and Curator of Historic Rock Castle, a 1784 Federal plantation house in TN. She even paid to keep the lights and HVAC on at the museum during its lean years. She established its ByLaws and many policies for the new museum, and was responsible for purchasing green featheredge creamware based on sherds found in an archaeological dig.

Highly principled, Roberta was a good friend. She and her husband gained many friends through their quest for antiques at home and in the UK. A connoisseur of art and antiques, she had an eye for finding beauty in objects others might pass by. She was not so much interested in the monetary value of art and antiques, but she cared for their educational value as a social historian, keen on learning from the past and preserving it and its lessons for the future.

She was member of Questers, Women's Club and the Stone Family Association. She was a direct descendant of Simon Stone who came to Massachusetts in April 1635 on the Increase from Great Bromley, England. She also was descended from many other early pioneers of this country, and was among the first families of Massachusetts, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Though in the last few years of her life, her body failed her, she was full of grace and her mind remained sharp.  Never a harsh or mean word for anyone, she raised her children in the knowledge that they were dearly loved.

A faithful wife and diligent homemaker, her family enjoyed her gourmet and traditional cooking, especially when entertaining family at Christmas or watching her teach schoolchildren the miracles of colonial hearthside cooking with her antique kitchenware.

A thoughtful and generous person who will surely go to heaven with the angels. While raised in many Christian faiths, in her final years, she embraced the 1928 liturgy of the Episcopalian church.  The majestic language of the King James version of the Holy Bible would do for her faith. We do this in remembrance of Him and you, and pay homage.

She had many traits worthy of remembering, but to those who had the privilege of truly knowing this private person, they loved her well and knew her only ever to be a lady.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in Roberta’s honor to the Cleveland Animal Protection League, 1729 Willey Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113.  A Service will be held at Glenwood Cemetery in Ashby, Massachusetts.