Patricia Patrick (Prof) 1931 - 2015

Patricia H. Patrick

1931 – 2015

Patricia (Patty) H. Patrick, 84, of Pensacola Beach, FL and Lake Forest, IL, died December  5, 2015, surrounded by her family in Gulf Breeze, FL after a long illness.

Born in Jacksonville, IL on July 23, 1931, Patty loved to play sports as a child and attend movies (her favorites were Westerns).  In 1953, she graduated from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Physical Education.

 Patty was a lifelong educator; she taught physical education, science, kinesiology, and health. Her career included being both a college professor and public school teacher.  She taught at Rocky Mountain College in Billing, MT;  University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign, IL;  John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo, NE; and Parsons College in Fairfield, IA.  One of her favorite memories included having football Hall of Famer, Dick Butkus, in her dance class at University of Illinois. She called him “twinkle toes” and took credit for his quickness on the field.  Patty also taught in several public schools in Illinois; she ended her career at Ravinia School in Highland Park, IL in 1998. 

Patty was also a coach and longtime women’s sports advocate. She coached girls’ basketball and softball at the college, high school and middle school level. She participated as a starter and official at the annual Illinois Girls State Track and Field Finals.  She spent summers as a director of girls’ basketball camps, camps for children with special needs, and learn to swim programs. She motivated her students to “give back” through her fundraising for “Jump Rope for Heart”.  It represented her love for fitness and staying "heart-healthy". She was a top fundraiser in Illinois and she earned the coveted, "Jump Rope for Heart" license plate for her car.

Patty is survived by her longtime partner, Elizabeth Anne Clark, Pensacola Beach, FL,: her sister, Charlene Hobbie, Waverly, IL; her children, Carrie Carr (Bill), Barrington, IL and , Larry Patrick (Amy) of Gurnee, IL , her grandchildren, Caitlyn, Madelyn, Collin, Cole, and Jackson; her nieces: Dixie Hanks Richter (John) of Albuquerque, NM; Betty Holder of Houston, TX; Wendy Friedland of Seattle, WA;  and many great and great-great, nieces and nephews;  and wonderful friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kathryn (Ollie) and Frederick Holle, and sisters, Emma and Mabel and brother, Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart in Patty’s memory https://donatenow.heart.org/. Memorials will be scheduled at a later date in Pensacola Beach, FL and Lake Forest, IL.  The family would like to extend a special “thank you” to the staff and director of the Beacon Memory Care Center in Gulf Breeze, FL for their loving care and kindness during Patty’s residence there. The family greatly appreciates the help of Emerald Coast Hospice, Pensacola, FL as well.

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