Dr. Jay Wesley Pettegrew, MD

Dr. Jay W. Pettegrew, M.D., 80, of Cleveland Hts., OH and Bradenton, FL, born May 19, 1944, entered into eternal rest on March 13, 2025, surrounded by family members.

Jay attended at the University of Illinois graduating medical student and received his doctrine completed residency and fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in Pediatric Neurology. Served in the US Navy as a Staff Neurologist with rank LCDR, at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VA.  Assistant Professor of Neurology, at the University of Texas Medical School, in Dallas.

Dr. Pettegrew retired Emeritus of Psychiatry from the University of Pittsburgh serving as Head of Neuroscience in the Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Bioengineering, Behavioral, and Community Health Sciences.  Internationally recognized expert in neurochemistry/neurophysics and the development and application of magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in neuropsychiatric disorders.  Extensive experience in the application of in vitro and in vivo MRSI/MRI methods to brain development, aging, Alzheimer’s disease, alcoholism, autism, major depressive disorders, and schizophrenia. Published over 300 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.  Member of sixteen national and international scientific societies including the American Academy of Neurology, The American Psychopathological Association, Inc., and the Royal Society of Medicine (England).  Reviewer for seventeen international scientific journals with over 100 international lectures.

He was also a member of many organizations and clubs socially and professionally including: the Sarasota Yacht Club, Sandusky Yacht Club, Edgewater Yacht Club, Long Boat Key Club, Midwest Bonanza Society, American Saddlebred Horse, Breeder Association and the Percheron Horse Association. Professionally he was a member of the Royal Society of Medicine, London and American Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Jay W. Pettegrew is survived by his wife, Marilyn C. Pettegrew; daughter, Heather Vincent (Stu), sons, Jonathan J. Pettegrew (deceased) and Jared Pettegrew (Kimberly); stepchildren, Thomas Sablyar, Steven Sablyar (Michelle), Laura Fellner (Kyle); grandfather of Spencer, Tyler, Allison, Adam, Lydia, Mason and Harper; brother Jerry Pettegrew (Bonnie).

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Elting Pettegrew and Elsie Lucille Bowyer Pettegrew; brothers, John Pettegrew and Jim Pettegrew.

Visitation will be from 12:00pm until time of funeral service at 1:00pm on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Boyd’s Grove Methodist Church in Bradford, Illinois with Pastor Dan Wright officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Mound Cemetery, Bradford, IL in the family plot amongst relatives that have been buried since the late 1700’s.

Online condolences may be made at www.grant-johnsonfh.com.