Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/28/26
From Hagan Funeral Home
Jeffrey Louis Pettit, age 76, a longtime resident of Media, PA, beloved husband, father and grandfather, a beloved pioneer of youth lacrosse in Delaware County, passed away suddenly on August 23, 2026.
(See full article on Jeff’s contributions to Philly lacrosse)
Born and raised in Huntington, NY, Jeff was one of seven children born to the late Lorraine (née Ackerly) and William Pettit. As a boy, Jeff excelled in academics and athletics, earning himself the Quimby Award which was the highest recognition for scholar-athletes from Suffolk County on Long Island. At Yale University, Jeff played football and lacrosse and was an All-New England and All-Ivy League Lacrosse Honoree. He graduated with Yale University’s class of 1972.
Jeff continued his studies at Villanova University School of Law where he was a member of the original DKE fraternity, an editor of the Villanova Law Review, and an assistant coach on Villanova Men’s lacrosse team. After graduating in 1975, he embarked upon a legal career that spanned many decades. Jeff was an esteemed partner at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney and Carpenter, LLP. He received an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and was a key member of the trial team that obtained the first defense verdict in a benzene exposure case in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He served as a speaker for Pennsylvania Community Providers Association and the American College of Medical Physicists.
Jeff and his wife, Sharon (née Kerr) made their home in Media, PA where they raised their four children and resided for nearly 45 years. An outstanding member of his local community, Jeff was a member of the Rose Tree-Media Optimist Club, the Union League, and lent his legal expertise to Rose Tree Media School District where he served as the School Board Director for twenty years.
Most notably, he founded Rose Tree-Media Optimist Youth Lacrosse Program which introduced the game that he loved to generations of kids in the Media area. He served as Director of Rose Tree-Media Optimist Youth Sports and Secretary of Southeastern Pennsylvania Youth Lacrosse Association. In 2019, he was inducted into the Eastern Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
A lifelong scholar, Jeff had a great appreciation for literature and history, especially Civil War and Native American history. He enjoyed folk music, hiking and camping, a good craft beer and nice whiskey. Ever the competitor, Jeff was always up for a board game and was known for creating incredible scavenger hunts for his grandchildren.
Jeff was preceded in death by his siblings T. Christopher Pettit, Walter Russell Pettit and Margo Labadini.
He is survived by his loving wife Sharon, children Jeffrey (Tara) of Media, Evan (Sarah) of Media, Todd (Kirsten) of Phoenixville, and Cailtin Morgan (Jeff) of Garnet Valley, PA. He was the proud grandfather of Brady Pettit, Shane Pettit, Reese Pettit, Jace Pettit, Colette Pettit, Ace Morgan, Roxie Morgan, Rylie Morgan, and Canon Morgan. He is also survived by his siblings Andrew Pettit of North Yarmouth, Maine, William Pettit, Jr. of Franklin, TN and Elizabeth Chandler of Westfield, NJ.
Family & Friends are invited to visitation hours at Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home on Friday, September 11th from: 4:00 P.M – 8:00 P.M. and again Saturday morning from: 9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. followed by Jeff’s memorial service at: 11:00 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to 4 The Future Foundation.
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Arrangements: Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home
15 E. Fourth Street
Media, PA 19063
http://www.haganfuneralhome.com
