(ROCHESTER, NEW YORK) - Ron Pettengill served as President of the Rochester AFL-CIO Central Labor Council from 1985 until 1996, leading the effort to build one of the strongest of New York's Central Labor Councils.  He passed away peacefully on Friday (February 28th). 

Pettengill (Pictured above, serving as Grand Marshall of the Rochester Labor Day Parade in 1997) is being remembered as a giant among his peers and a fearless leader and advocate for all in the Labor Movement, who spoke on behalf of those who had no voice.

Ron Pettengill first arrived in Rochester in 1950 as a young man without many prospects or even a roof over his head and slept on a bench in Washington Square Park.

He spent his first years doing odd jobs like washing dishes at the old 25 Club.

Ron's break came in 1955 when he got into Rochester Carpenter District Council Local 72's Apprenticeship Training Program.

He took to the work immediately, taking pride in learning the craft well.

It was a tough, hard-working time, according to Pettengill, but one that changed his life, providing opportunities that he would have otherwise never had.

It was during this time that he met and married his wife, Mary Lou.

A year later, their son, Ron Jr., was born.

Even as an Apprentice, Pettengill got involved with his Union, attending every meeting and speaking up often.

A Journeyman Carpenter since 1959, Pettengill served as an Officer in his local Union in the mid-60s and in 1968 he first ran for Business Representative, losing a hotly-contested race.

Undeterred, he ran again the next year and won.

Pettengill served as Business Agent until 1976 and as General Agent from 1978 until retiring in 1996 after a quarter century of leadership of the Local that he loved. 

Under Pettengill's stewardship, Rochester Carpenters Local Union 85, grew to represent more than 1,300 Members.

He was also deeply committed to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC), with many friends throughout the country.

Pettengill served on the New York State Council of Carpenter's Executive Board and was involved in several elections at the International level.

But he didn't limit his leadership to his Union.

Pettengill was involved in local politics for many years, with friends on both sides of the aisle.

He served at many levels of the Democratic Party and was especially proud of the role he played in helping elect Mario Cuomo Governor and Louise Slaughter to Congress.

When Pettengill retired in 1996, he helped to found the Ronald G. Pettengill Labor Education Fund that was established in 1997 to inform and educate the Greater Rochester community on Labor issues and Labor History, to further the Labor Movement, to enhance the skills and knowledge of area Rank-and -file Members, and to develop local Labor Leadership

With his decades in the Labor Movement and politics, Pettengill never lost sight of the needs of everyday, Working People.

It was this vision that helped him to create a better world for Working People today. 

The Pettengill Family has informed the Rochester Labor Council of the following funeral arrangements: Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, March 4th between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., at the Anthony Funeral and Cremation Chapels at 1031 Ridge Road in Webster.  A Mass will be held on Thursday, March 5th at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Trinity at 1460 Ridge Road, which is also in Webster.

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