Age 90
Sister Patricia passed away peacefully at Saint Mary Home in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Sister Pat earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at Saint Joseph College (now the University of Saint Joseph). She pursued graduate studies at the American Film Institute and the University of Notre Dame and was a Research Fellow at Yale Divinity School.
Sister Pat’s ministry was focused on education and strengthening non-profit organizations. She started as an English teacher in 1958. In 1973, she became the founding chief administrator at Mercy Center at Madison, a retreat and conference center. She stayed in that role for six years before returning to her high school alma mater, the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, Lauralton Hall, where she established the development office and served as director of development for 10 years.
She then served in alumni relations and development roles at the University of New Haven from 1989-1999. In 2000, Sister Pat established a consulting initiative for non-profit organizations focused on major gifts and special events. During that time, she oversaw the major events marking the 150th anniversary of the Sisters of Mercy’s service in Connecticut, as interim director of alumni relations at Southern Connecticut State University and as director of Lauralton Hall’s Centennial celebration.
Sister Pat had a gift for developing and maintaining lifelong friendships and connections. She served on a wide variety of community organizations, including the Boards of Trustees of Mercy Community Health, Mercy Housing and Shelter, and Our Lady of Mercy School; the Advisory Board of Catholic Family Services; and the Board of Directors of the Archdiocese of Hartford’s Office of Urban Affairs. With a 24-year tenure, she also was one of the longest-serving Trustees in the history of the University of Saint Joseph; she spent three years as board secretary and as vice chair. Sister Pat was named a trustee emerita by the university in 2020.
Among other recognitions she received were the M. Rosa McDonough Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Saint Joseph, the M. Augustine Claven Award for Life Achievement from Lauralton Hall and a Distinguished Alumna Award from Lauralton Hall.