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William Anderson Patterson 1911 - 2006

My Grandfather passed away in his sleep last Wednesday. I felt a special connection to my grandpa: i was named after him, he was a mathematician. I remember when as a child I asked him what he studied, and he answered "progressive progressions". "What's that?" I asked. "like one, two, three, four" with each word increasing the pitch of his voice. "or two four six eight" in a crescendo from quiet to loud, and also increasing in pitch. "or five ten fifteen twenty", with increasing pitch and volume, while walking up the stairs. As far as he could take it. He was always kidding. He was always honest and kind and thrifty. He was so modest that it wasn't until a few years ago that I learned that he played an instrumental role in the creation of Cleveland State University out of Fenn College. Just last year my aunt completed a family history based on his memoirs, interviews with many family members, and collected photographs. A few of these plus a few I scanned from an old album are here.

He is survived by his wife Mary and a host of family. He will be missed. He is the last of my four birth grandparents to pass away.

From The Plain Dealer, Cleveland's newspaper:

DR. WILLIAM ANDERSON PATTERSON, 94, of Willoughby, died June 28, 2006 at his home. Memorial services will be 3 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at the Lyons Chapel at the Nason Center of Breckenridge Village, 36859 Ridge Rd., (St. Rt. 84, 2 miles E. of St. Rt. 91), Willoughby. Born September 23, 1911 in Lorain, he was a lifelong resident of the Cleveland area, spending the last ten years at Breckenridge Village in Willoughby. He was formerly an active member of Willoughby United Methodist Church for 40 years, where he taught Sunday school and served in many administrative positions; he was also a former trustee of the Andrews School in Willoughby and a founding trustee of the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby. He loved to travel the world, and visited China, the former U.S.S.R., and many other countries. He also enjoyed ballroom dancing and playing bridge. Dr. Patterson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenberg University and his Master of Arts and Ph.D. from Ohio State University. He was also presented with honorary degrees from the former Fenn College in Cleveland in 1965 and from Cleveland State University (CSU) in 1967. He is remembered as being "The Human Link" during the transition of the former Fenn College into the present-day CSU. He stayed in touch with many of his former students through the years, and CSU endowed a scholarship, in his name, when he retired. Dr. Patterson began his career as a professor of mathematics at the former Fenn College, and also served as registrar, director of admissions, dean of engineering, provost and budget director throughout his career. He retired in 1971 after 35 years of service. Survivors are his wife of 30 years, Mary E. (nee Prince) (Bayer) (Dobosy) Patterson; daughters, Phyllis Patterson Draves of Trafford, PA and Marilyn Patterson (Charles) Schroeder of Mission Viejo, CA, Carol Anne (James) Bartos of Charlotte, NC and Jacqueline Louise (James) Chaplin of Painesville; sister, Henrietta Patterson Chapman of Whiting, NJ; grandchildren, Richard Powell (Martha) Draves, Cheryl Draves (Vladimir) Ladyzhets, William Scott Draves, Curtis David (Patricia) Draves, Rebecca Lynn (Christopher) Edington, William Charles Schroeder, Jeffrey Andrew (Sushma) Bartos, Beth Bartos (Bob) Martin, Timothy (Cynthia) Bartos, Jeffrey James (Jennifer) Chaplin, Scott Paul (Rebekah) Chaplin, Laura Jean Chaplin; great grandchildren, Sarah and Katherine Draves, Betsy and Sophia Ladyzhets, Anya Draves, Jake, David and Bradley Edington, Mira and Nikhil Bartos, Samantha and Jack Martin and Emma and Micah Chaplin. His first wife, Mildred Keplinger Patterson died June 30, 1975 and his son, David James Patterson died Feb. 18, 1967. THERE WILL BE NO CALLING HOURS. A family member, the Rev. Kenneth H. Sauer will officiate at the service. The family suggests gifts, in his memory, to the William A. "Doc" Patterson Scholarship Fund at CSU or the Breckenridge Village Life Care Fund, 36855 Ridge Rd., Willoughby, 44094. Arrangements are being handled by DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, 4154 CLARK AVE., WILLOUGHBY

Posted by spot at July 7, 2006 09:52 PM