Walter G. Mendrick, 88, of Rochester, NY passed away on December 6, 2024, after an extended illness.

He was born in Dover, NJ on February 15, 1936, son of Walter and Catherine Mendrick. He is survived by his wife, Monica Mendrick, his son Michael (Becky) Mendrick and his daughter Karen Koons, stepchildren Vicki Hartranft and Mark Petitti as well as grandchildren Jeremy (Shauna) Mendrick, Timothy Knight, Kelly (Brandon) Brady, Zack Koons, Daniel Kiernan, Nicholas Zamanian, Melissa Petitti, and great-grandchildren Shiloh Mendrick, Olivia Zamanian, and Ali Strickland. He is also survived by siblings Donald (Fran) Mendrick and Nancy Anderson and predeceased by his brother Richard and first wife Nancy Mendrick, who passed away in 2002.

Walt grew up in Hackettstown, NJ and was an accomplished athlete in high school basketball and baseball. After graduation at the age of 17 he joined the U.S. Marine Corp in October of 1953 and although his active service ended in 1956, he was proud to consider himself a Marine for the rest of his life. His service in the Marine Corps also took him to a base in Miami, FL where he met his wife Nancy (Trumble) at a USO event. They were married in November of 1955 and enjoyed a 47-year union until her death in March of 2002.

His service in the Marines also enabled him to attend Ohio University in Athens, OH on the GI Bill. Walt graduated from OU in 1960 and soon after joined the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, NY. – where he spent his entire career. Over the course of thirty-one years, until his retirement at 55 in 1991, Walt enjoyed a steady climb in his career as well as working with colleagues that would become lifelong friends. His career at Kodak eventually took him to London, England in 1976 where he and Nancy would spend the next four years and make many new friends from all over England and Europe. Upon returning to Rochester in 1980, Walt then traveled to Kodak operations throughout South America until his retirement. In all, Walt had the opportunity to visit and work in more than 30 countries throughout Europe and South America – not bad for a kid from a small town in rural New Jersey!

Walt’s retirement at 55 provided him and Nancy with great opportunities to travel, visit friends and attend sporting events for his grandchildren – a favorite activity of his (if not for the referees working those particular games). He loved family events and expressed his support for and pride in his adult children, seven grandchildren and great-grandchildren on a regular basis. His marriage in 2006 to Swedish-born Monica Pettiti led to a happy “Chapter Two” in his senior life and they enjoyed many trips, visits to friends, family events, golf tournaments and Bills victories on TV!

Walter Mendrick lived the very definition of a long, full, fun, and rewarding life. His life story will be shared during his visitation at Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home, 1411 Vintage Lane, Rochester, NY 14626 (Between 390 & Long Pond Rd.) on Thursday, January 9, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Walter’s funeral service will be celebrated, Friday, January 10, 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Private Interment in White Haven Memorial Park.

It was Gerry’s wish to continue to make a difference so in lieu of flowers please consider donating to his fund, The Walter (Gerry) Mendrick Memorial Fund at Rochester Area Community Foundation 500 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 or online https://www.racf.org/mendrick