Obituary for BJ Petty
Barbara J. Petty, the co-founder and former executive director of Fisherman’s Mark, a comprehensive social service agency based in Lambertville, NJ died on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at the Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ. She was 81 years old.
Known to all as B.J., she recognized the need for an extensive network of support services for the Delaware Valley community in lower Hunterdon and Upper Bucks Counties. She proudly asserted that the programs provided by the organization would be available to anyone in need without geographic restrictions. Established in 1980, Fisherman’s Mark grew to include a food bank,
emergency shelter placement, psychological, family and career counseling services, English as a second language programs, job training, legal services and adult education. With the renovation of the Elvin K. Smith Center at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Lambertville the programs offered expanded to include a clothing thrift shop where clients could be outfitted for job interviews and clothed for their best professional outcome. The center hosted support group meetings such as Alcohol Anonymous and Al-anon. Lambertville Academy, originally called Hand in Hand, was launched, a curriculum based early childhood education program to support parents and children in pre-school; early morning and after school activities to enhance learning and personal growth. The program also fostered the early careers of many young people who were inspired and encouraged to pursue education as their life’s work.
BJ reached out beyond the local area to elected officials, corporate boards and church leadership to expand the work of the organization and raise increased awareness of community needs.
The success of Fisherman’s Mark was due to BJ’s dedication, energy and commitment and her ability to create an extensive network of able and talented community leaders and citizens to join in her mission. The lives of countless citizens of the Delaware Valley were supported, improved, enhanced and turned around by the efforts and dedication of the people at Fisherman’s Mark and it’s founder, BJ Petty.
Earlier BJ was employed at Hunterdon Occupational Training Center and Hunterdon County Adult Education.
Born in Buffalo, NY, BJ moved with her family to Indiana as a young child. She excelled in school and was a champion gymnast. Her skills earned her a place with the US Olympic team with training at the Turn Vine Olympic camp. Though an injury kept her from competition, BJ joined the US Olympic Team in Melbourne Australia at the 1956 games. At the same time BJ excelled in academics and got a perfect score on her SATS. She earned her MS in psychology from Kean University in Union, NJ with additional studies in fund raising management. She was also awarded degrees from St. Joseph’s University and Peirce College, both in Philadelphia and Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey) focusing on sociology and management.
BJ played women’s field hockey while at the University of Pennsylvania, later played semi-pro, served as a hockey official and was invited to officiate at state meets. She was also an accomplished horseback rider and a marathon swimmer.
The daughter of the late Herbert R. and Elizabeth Parks Howard and the sister of the late Thomas N. Howard. She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years William A. Petty. They made their home in Frenchtown since 1964. BJ is also survived her three sons and their wives Douglas B. and Karin Petty of White Bear Lake, MN; Scott R. and Saasha Petty of Hopewell, NJ and Joel W. Petty and Karin Traina of Washington Crossing, PA; her grandchildren Erin Petty and her partner Vincent Torres of Allentown, PA; Mackenzie Petty and Kylie Petty both of White Bear Lake and Zaya Petty of Washington Crossing; her great-grandchildren Chloe and Draven and her sister-in-law Linda Petty of Moylan, PA. To be a member of the Petty clan meant being a volunteer for Fisherman’s Mark. All the Pettys were pulled into service as the need arose.
BJ is also survived by a vast extensive Fisherman’s Mark family of staff, board members, supporters, volunteers and the many people whose lives were enhanced by her encouragement, support, efforts, push and inspiration.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Life Celebration Services on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 12 noon at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530 (vhmfh.com).
There will be calling hours at the funeral home on Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 10 am until the start of services.
Donations in BJ Petty’s memory may be made to Fisherman’s Mark, 37 S Main Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530
Known to all as B.J., she recognized the need for an extensive network of support services for the Delaware Valley community in lower Hunterdon and Upper Bucks Counties. She proudly asserted that the programs provided by the organization would be available to anyone in need without geographic restrictions. Established in 1980, Fisherman’s Mark grew to include a food bank,
emergency shelter placement, psychological, family and career counseling services, English as a second language programs, job training, legal services and adult education. With the renovation of the Elvin K. Smith Center at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Lambertville the programs offered expanded to include a clothing thrift shop where clients could be outfitted for job interviews and clothed for their best professional outcome. The center hosted support group meetings such as Alcohol Anonymous and Al-anon. Lambertville Academy, originally called Hand in Hand, was launched, a curriculum based early childhood education program to support parents and children in pre-school; early morning and after school activities to enhance learning and personal growth. The program also fostered the early careers of many young people who were inspired and encouraged to pursue education as their life’s work.
BJ reached out beyond the local area to elected officials, corporate boards and church leadership to expand the work of the organization and raise increased awareness of community needs.
The success of Fisherman’s Mark was due to BJ’s dedication, energy and commitment and her ability to create an extensive network of able and talented community leaders and citizens to join in her mission. The lives of countless citizens of the Delaware Valley were supported, improved, enhanced and turned around by the efforts and dedication of the people at Fisherman’s Mark and it’s founder, BJ Petty.
Earlier BJ was employed at Hunterdon Occupational Training Center and Hunterdon County Adult Education.
Born in Buffalo, NY, BJ moved with her family to Indiana as a young child. She excelled in school and was a champion gymnast. Her skills earned her a place with the US Olympic team with training at the Turn Vine Olympic camp. Though an injury kept her from competition, BJ joined the US Olympic Team in Melbourne Australia at the 1956 games. At the same time BJ excelled in academics and got a perfect score on her SATS. She earned her MS in psychology from Kean University in Union, NJ with additional studies in fund raising management. She was also awarded degrees from St. Joseph’s University and Peirce College, both in Philadelphia and Trenton State College (now the College of New Jersey) focusing on sociology and management.
BJ played women’s field hockey while at the University of Pennsylvania, later played semi-pro, served as a hockey official and was invited to officiate at state meets. She was also an accomplished horseback rider and a marathon swimmer.
The daughter of the late Herbert R. and Elizabeth Parks Howard and the sister of the late Thomas N. Howard. She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years William A. Petty. They made their home in Frenchtown since 1964. BJ is also survived her three sons and their wives Douglas B. and Karin Petty of White Bear Lake, MN; Scott R. and Saasha Petty of Hopewell, NJ and Joel W. Petty and Karin Traina of Washington Crossing, PA; her grandchildren Erin Petty and her partner Vincent Torres of Allentown, PA; Mackenzie Petty and Kylie Petty both of White Bear Lake and Zaya Petty of Washington Crossing; her great-grandchildren Chloe and Draven and her sister-in-law Linda Petty of Moylan, PA. To be a member of the Petty clan meant being a volunteer for Fisherman’s Mark. All the Pettys were pulled into service as the need arose.
BJ is also survived by a vast extensive Fisherman’s Mark family of staff, board members, supporters, volunteers and the many people whose lives were enhanced by her encouragement, support, efforts, push and inspiration.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Life Celebration Services on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 12 noon at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530 (vhmfh.com).
There will be calling hours at the funeral home on Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 10 am until the start of services.
Donations in BJ Petty’s memory may be made to Fisherman’s Mark, 37 S Main Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530