CAROL M. PETILLO
VINALHAVEN.............Carol Morris Petillo died unexpectedly on March 26th, 2015 at her home on Vinalhaven, Maine. Carol was born and grew up in Mannington West Virginia. She attended Montclair State College for her undergraduate degree and Rutgers University for post graduate and doctoral degrees. She was on faculty of the history department at Boston College from 1979 to 2002 where she authored Douglas MacArthur: The Philippine Years and numerous other publications on American history and foreign policy.
Carol married Wayne Foley Cooper in 1983. He survives her along with her children John Joseph Petillo II, Christopher David Petillo, Anna Maria Petillo and Joseph Ralph Petillo, the father of her children, John Joseph Petillo , her daughters-in-law, Rebecca Jones Petillo, and Laura Marriffino Petillo, her grandchildren , Halley Harrison Dodge, Sean Raymond Ganning, Kristian Taylor Petillo, Elena Ruth Petillo, John Henry Petillo and Christopher Ryan Petillo and her great granddaughter Hailee Joy Ganning.
At Boston College, Carol proved an exceptionally good and popular teacher and a historian of American foreign policy and military history. Her courses were always informative and well attended. She developed an especially successful course on the Vietnam War, utilizing the experiences of guest Vietnam War veterans, who never failed to hold her students' attention. She also produced a variety of scholarly articles, book reviews, and books including the aforementioned study of General Douglas MacArthur. Over the years, she directed several Ph.D. students in various fields of American history. They, in turn, often went on to successful academic careers.
After retiring to Vinalhaven, Carol succeeded quickly in gaining new friends among both old and young townspeople and both permanent and summer residents. When called upon, she advised graduating high school seniors about colleges, wrote them recommendations, and followed their college careers from afar.
At the same time, Carol undertook a variety of other tasks. She was an ardent and recognized craftswoman in the art of rug hooking. She helped out at the weekly Wind, served as an early board member of Vinalhaven Eldercare, and worked with the Land Trust when called upon. She went regularly to the women’s book club and was passionately fond of the biweekly women’s card group. She was a member of the medical center’s board of trustees and never missed a meeting of the Monday night knitting and rug-hooking group at the library. Wherever Carol directed her attention, she became an energetic, positive presence, full of life and good humor as well as good sense.
Carol died in mid-stride, living to the very end of the life she loved, among the people she loved. She will be remembered by all who knew her as a bright force for positive and happy achievement. This faithful daughter from the hills and hollows of West Virginia, loving wife and mother, accomplished scholar and teacher, steadfast protector of all the companion species entrusted to her (a sacred mission!) and a willing constructive community friend to all. She shall not be forgotten.
The family would be honored by memorial gifts made in her memory to the Humane Society of Knox County, PO Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841 or to the Islands Community Medical Services, PO Box 812, Vinalhaven, ME 04863.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 on Thursday April 2nd at the Union Church on Vinalhaven with Elder Bob Candage and the Rev. John Potter co-officiating. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.

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