Victor R. Petrosino, whose career teaching history in Harford County public schools spanned more than three decades, died Nov. 5 at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The Bel Air resident was 84.

A cause of death was unavailable, according to family members.

“I was a student at Bel Air High in Victor’s first year of teaching and had him for a history class. He was inspiring then, leading me to major in history in college,” said Peter Schlehr. “It was a special blessing for our family to have known him as a teacher, a friend and a deacon all these many years.”

Victor Ralph Petrosino, son of Victor Petrosino, an Aberdeen Proving Ground shoemaker, and his wife, Melba Petrosino, a school cafeteria worker, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, and moved to Havre de Grace in 1942 with his family.

While a student at Havre de Grace High School, he met Carol Martz, whom he married in 1962.

After graduating from high school in 1958, he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1964 in history from what is now Towson University.

He began his teaching career in 1964 at Bel Air High School and, in 1971, obtained a master’s degree from Ohio State University. Two years later, he earned a second master’s degree in education from Towson University.

During his career, Mr. Petrosino taught at North Harford Middle and C. Milton Wright High School. He retired in 1999. He was named Harford County Teacher of the Year in 1993.

“He was an obvious choice,” said Ronald Webb, who was principal of C. Milton Wright at the time. “He just stands out as someone with an intense interest in the subject matter, an undying enthusiasm and a genuine love for kids.”

It was not uncommon for Mr. Petrosino to don the dress of a historical figure he was teaching his students about.

“His students would initially think he might be a little out of sorts,” said his wife, a retired Harford County educator. “But it gave them a different perspective. It certainly made class interesting.”

Mr. Petrosino and his wife had been communicants of St. Margaret Roman Catholic Church for 60 years.

He also studied at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Frederick County to prepare for the diaconal ministry and served as a deacon at his church, St. Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church in Bel Air, for 25 years

Monsignor Kevin Schenning, pastor at St. Margaret’s, said he recalled reading The Little Engine That Could as a child.

“This little Italian person had a big heart and used it to serve the people of God,” Msgr. Schenning said. “He showed through baptizing babies, blessing pets, visiting the sick and comforting families who lost loved ones. Vic was the little engine that made Christ visible to all he served.”

Mr. Petrosino was a member of the Legion of Mary, a Third Order Franciscan and chaplain for the Harford County Committee for Veteran Affairs. He was also the chaplain on-call at the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air and Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace.

“He was a holy, kind, gentle Franciscan soul,” said the Rev. Dr. Thaddeus Siegel, director of spiritual care services at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at St. Margaret’s, 141 Hickory Road, Bel Air.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Gregory M. Petrosino, of Bel Air; a sister, Sue Rigler, of Havre de Grace; and a nephew.