Cleveland Firefighter-Paramedic Dies of COVID-19 Complications

Advance Ohio Media, Cleveland

The wife of a Cleveland firefighter who died Saturday of complications from the coronavirus said he was a dedicated public servant and family man whose love for animals was only eclipsed by his devotion to his twin daughters.

Lt. Richard Petras, 51, died after developing a blood clot in his lungs less than one week after testing positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. He spent 26 years with the Cleveland fire department, working most of that time with Engine 30 in the Glenville neighborhood, his wife Jill Petras said.

The couple met while attending separate high schools in Cleveland’s west suburbs and were married 27 years. Jill Petras described her husband as a loving father to their twin 23-year-old daughters Ashley and Amber, dating back to the time he spent by their bedsides when they were born prematurely and needed to stay in a neonatal ICU unit.

“His whole life was Amber and Ashley,” Jill Petras said. ”His face would light up when he talked about his daughters.”

Richard coached his daughters’ softball and basketball teams in elementary school and was a constant presence at their dance recitals. When they ascended to high school, he coached them in volleyball. And when they earned scholarships to play volleyball in college, he traveled to see their games at that level.

Richard also loved animals. At one point, the Petras home also included three dogs and two cats. On two occasions, Richard brought home stray dogs that wandered into his fire station, caring for them until he could find them a permanent home.

“Rich is probably the kindest person I know,” his wife said. “He was definitely the type of person who took care of my daughters and me. He did everything for us.”

He also loved to cook. At the fire station, Richard was in charge of many of the meals and specialized in dishes like a chicken, rice and cheese casserole, Jill said. He also made many of those dinners for his own family.

“Every time we had family over for the holidays, we knew Rich was cooking us a big meal,” Jill said.

Jill isn’t sure how her husband contracted the coronavirus. Her family has been careful; both Ashley and Amber are nurses. They were especially on guard because Richard’s father died from complications from the coronavirus only months ago at the outset of the pandemic.

Richard felt lethargic as he ate dinner with Jill and Ashley on Aug. 7, but he assumed it was a byproduct of a long week of work. By the next morning, he’d developed a temperature of 103 degrees. Richard also worked as a part-time paramedic for the Cleveland Clinic, so he arranged to take a coronavirus test that came back positive Aug. 9.

Jill and Ashley also tested positive over the next several days. Jill was mostly asymptomatic but had a minor cold and cough, while Ashley had a low-grade fever and lethargy.

Richard’s fever lingered throughout the week, but he remained at home with his wife. Doctors at the Clinic monitored him by phone and called every day to check on his symptoms. Things seemed to be improving by Friday night when Jill and Richard ate dinner together.

“It wasn’t a lot, but we sat down and ate a little bit,” Jill said. “He was doing okay.”

Richard’s breathing became labored on Saturday, so Jill called 911. She learned the severity of Richard’s condition shortly after he arrived at the Clinic.

“I didn’t expect when he went to the hospital that I was going to be called right away and told he was in critical condition,” Jill said.

The Clinic called Jill and Ashley to the hospital, where doctors told them Richard developed a fatal blood clot in his lungs. They donned gowns and other personal protective equipment so they could go into his room to say goodbye. They also called Amber, living in Florida, so that she could speak to her father one more time.

“It was very difficult, but I’m glad we were able to at least do that for him,” Jill said.

Dealing with the grief from Richard’s death is even more difficult because Jill and Ashley tested positive for the virus. Ashley just completed her quarantine, but Jill remains sequestered until Friday.

When Amber arrived in Cleveland to see her family, she could not stay with her mother. They needed to remain distanced as they met in Jill’s front yard.

“I still haven’t been able to hug her. That has been very difficult,” Jill said. “I can’t hold my daughter and comfort her.”

The Petras family has taken some solace in the condolences from friends and Richard’s colleagues at the fire department. Chief Angelo Calvillo and Fran Lally, the president of the IAFF Local 93 union representing Cleveland firefighters, each called Jill to express their sympathies, she said.

“In the face of this pandemic, Rich never neglected his duty and never backed down,” Lally said in a statement after Richard’s death. “He knew the risks, and he continued to serve — a true hero.”

A family friend also set up a GoFundMe to raise money for Richard’s funeral that has raised $37,000, well above its goal of $5,000. Jill said she plans to donate most of the money to the Cleveland Animal Protective League in honor of her husband’s love for animals.

Visitation is scheduled 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24 at Chambers Funeral Homes’ West Park location at 4420 Rocky River Dr. in Cleveland. The funeral is scheduled 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Angels Church at 3644 Rocky River Dr. in Cleveland. Space is limited due to coronavirus-related restrictions.