Deborah Petrarca

Deborah Rae Petrarca, age 72, of 185 Arnold’s Neck Drive, Warwick, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, September 18th. She was the wife of Richard Gurspan and the former spouse of Dr. James Myers.

Deborah was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late Raymond and Arbutus Petrarca. She cherished learning and attended numerous schools, from the University of Pennsylvania to the University of Wisconsin, ultimately receiving her B.A. from the University of Rhode Island and Masters in Education from Providence College.

A lover of singing and music, she was a true child of the sixties, going to Woodstock, sponsoring her Winter Solstice parties on the East Side and traveling with friends and family on her annual sojourns to the Bread and Puppet Circus in Vermont. Early in life, Deborah managed a vegetarian restaurant and jazz club during the radical times in Madison,Wisconsin, worked as an advertising agent for the magazine, Rhode Island Woman, and,also, acted in performances of the avant garde Flat Branch Theatre.

But, Deborah truly found her vocation when she began a career in education at Hope High School that lasted for over thirty years. In her various roles there, as Principal of the innovative Hope Essential School, Teacher Leader of the History Department and teacher in the Hope Arts Magnate, Deborah was able to combine her passion for education, children and social justice and to create a legacy for herself in the school community as she found her voice advocating for the interests of both students and teachers. She continued to connect and to communicate with former colleagues and students through her vibrant presence on Facebook.

In retirement, Deborah enjoyed reading and exercising at the YMCA. But, most of all, she cherished her role as matriarch of her family, by indulging in her joy of hosting and cooking for family and friends. She especially loved her position as “Grandma Nona”, as she often babysat for her four grandchildren, Edy, Phoebe, Roxie and Ellis.

Besides her husband, Richard, and her grandchildren, Deborah’s passing comes as a great loss to so many people who loved her. She is also survived by her son, Dylan Myers and her daughter-in-law, Betsy Skoda-Myers, her son, Matthew Myers and her daughter-in-law, Jade Barton-Myers and her brother, Daryl Petrarca. Deborah will be missed by her Petrarca cousins from Philadelphia and her Rasnake cousins from Virginia.

Her wake will be held at Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 142 Centerville Road, Warwick from 4-8 pm on Thursday, September 26th.

Her funeral service will be held in the Historical Chapel in Swan Point Cemetery on Saturday, September 28th at 12:00 pm. Burial will follow the funeral service with a reception afterwards at Swan Point.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation on behalf of Deborah’s deceased son, Colin, to the Colin Myers Fund, care of The Rhode Island foundation.