On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Jill Evans Petzall passed away at the age of 82.

Born May 23, 1942, to Willard Levy and Marjorie Schlesinger, she was a filmmaker who wrote and produced over forty documentaries. Her work won numerous awards, including four Emmys, a Corporation for Public Broadcasting Award, a CINE Golden Eagle Award, and the Golden Reel Award from ITVA. She was Washington University’s Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumna in 2006, and University of Missouri – St. Louis School of Social Work’s Outstanding Person of the Year in 1997. She was also a published poet and a photographer whose work was shown at the Sheldon. Always a strong supporter of causes that benefit women and children, she served as the chairwoman of the Square One Foundation.

As a mother, she modeled a fierce independence and courage to build a life according to one’s own vision. She insisted on using the dining room and cloth napkins even when it was just family because she believed in bringing beauty into their lives and surroundings. When it came to aesthetic living, no detail was irrelevant. But what her kids remember most is her laughter; you could hear the joy in her voice.

She spent the last 32 years married to Claude Evans: the love of her life; the co-host of their parties; the subject of much of her poetry, the man who supported her through art projects, illnesses, and adventures of all kinds. The smiles on their faces when they looked at each other, and the deep affection and respect they showed one another, serve as a model to her children and grandchildren of what love can be.

She is survived by her loving husband, Claude Evans; her sister, Elma Kanefield; her stepsiblings David (Phyllis) and Elizabeth Levy; her three children, Julie Simpher (Jeff), Jenny Petzall, and Guy Petzall (Sarah); her six grandkids, Jamie, Jacob, Kepler, Jasper, Ben, and Kaya; as well as her beloved dog, Jack; and an enormous chosen family.

In lieu of a formal service, if you are looking for a way to show love and support, please consider a contribution to the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery to honor Jill’s lifelong dedication to helping local women and children.

BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE