Pat began her volunteer career in first grade, collecting pennies at Halloween for UNICEF. School and college provided many opportunities to support volunteer projects, as did helping her parents with their community-oriented activities in Columbus, Ohio. After graduating with bachelor and master’s degrees in French, Pat and Lou moved to Massachusetts where Pat stumbled into a job promoting child car safety seats and seat belts. Their two young daughters often served as demonstrators of safe seats.
Upon moving to Delaware, Pat again stumbled, this time into a career as certified school librarian, which she pursued at Saint Edmond’s Academy and Highlands (now Joseph E. Johnson) Elementary School. Her volunteer participation in Delaware has included roles in The Delaware UNICEF Committee, The Kiwanis Club of Wilmington, Together Women Rise (formerly Dining for Women), and Peace Week Delaware, where she has been a Steering Committee member since 2017. Her activities in promoting Peace Week events are varied, and include a focus on outreach to schools and libraries in particular.
Pat and Lou are enthusiastic students at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Wilmington, where they attend a wide range of classes. They are proud of three grandchildren in Dallas, Texas, and one grandson in Philadelphia.
