Dr. Vincent Petrosino

Dr. Vincent J. Petrosino, a resident of Essex House in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, died on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. He was 78.

Vincent was born on January 31, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, to Prospero and Michelina (Vigilante) Petrosino. He attended Brooklyn Preparatory High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Manhattan College (now Manhattan University), where he studied foreign languages. While French was his specialty, he read, spoke, wrote, and taught a variety of languages, including Spanish, German, Italian, and Latin. He also taught English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Vincent had a keen intellect and exceled in school. He earned a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree from Loyola University Maryland. In 2006, he earned a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) from Temple University, a post-retirement accomplishment of which he was particularly proud. His doctoral thesis focused on issues of school safety in Central Pennsylvania.

A lifelong educator, Vincent spent more than 30 years in the Baltimore City Public Schools as a teacher, department head, and administrator. In midcareer, he successfully qualified in Supervision and Administration, a milestone which enabled him to serve as an Assistant Principal. Some of the schools where Vincent worked include: Hamilton Elementary/Middle, the Baltimore School for the Arts, the former Northern High School, Hazelwood Elementary, Chinquapin Middle School, and Brehms Lane Elementary. He also worked as an adjunct instructor at Catonsville Community College.

Vincent is survived by his daughter, Courteney Petrosino (Philip Miller) of Orange, Virginia and his adoptive daughter, Leona Jones and her son, Samuel Thomas, of Harrisburg. He is also survived by his sister, Alfonsa Langbein (Martin, Sr.) of Milford; longtime friends, Fred and Sheila Krause of Shrewsbury, and Peter and Teri Silvester of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania, among other friends, former students, his fellow residents at Essex House, and one other daughter. In addition to his parents, Vincent was preceded in death by his longtime companion and caregiver, Andy Lee Jones.

Vincent loved entertaining and regularly prepared gourmet Italian meals to share with his friends. At Essex House, where he resided for the past year, he led weekly game nights. He was an avid reader of history and fiction, with Charles Dickens among his favorite authors. Vincent enjoyed jazz music, Broadway showtunes, Motown, and the artistry of famous vocalists like Leontyne Price. He had a photographic memory and could unfold the intricacies of ancient Rome or the royal lineage of England as easily as those of his own, meticulously researched, family tree.

Relatives and friends are invited to greet the family from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday July 9, 2025 at the Neumyer Funeral Home, Inc., 1334 North Second Street, Harrisburg, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 A.M. Vincent wished to be cremated following his service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://stjude.org) or to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (https://myasthenia.org).