Patricia Ann Reifenstein

1924 - 2011

Juneau Resident Patricia Reifenstein died peacefully on Monday, May 9, with family members at her side. Pat was born on May 8, 1924, in Detroit, Michigan, to Floyd Seibert and Cecelia McGinley Seibert. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Fred and William Seibert of Michigan; her husband Rear Admiral (Ret.) George H. Reifenstein, MC, USNR; stepdaughters Mary Reifenstein of Naples, Florida, and Nancy R. Porto of Juneau.

She graduated from Redford H.S. in 1942 and received her nursing diploma from Detroit's Harper Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. Between 1945 and 1974 Pat worked in the health care field at local hospitals, physician's offices and the Department of Public Health in Detroit while earning her bachelor's in Nursing and Master's in Nursing Administration from Wayne State University. Her sense of adventure took her to Saudi Arabia in 1974 where, for two years, she was the Chief of Nursing at the Whittaker Jeddah Hospital. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Dr. George H. Reifenstein, who was also there on assignment.

Pat returned to Detroit in 1976 and worked for the Oakland County Health Division until 1981 when she relocated to Fort Myers, Florida, where she worked as a consultant for the Department of Health until 1988.

Pat's Alaskan adventure started in 1987-88 when long-time friend and recent widower George Reifenstein was visiting in Florida. With so many shared interests in travel, faith, nature and medicine, the two were a wonderful pair; they were married at Saint Paul's Catholic Church in Juneau on August 11, 1988, and moved into their home on Auke Lake. They also enjoyed traveling. There was always a dog in the house. Pat was especially fond of dogs rescued from difficult situations and neighborhood dogs that recognized a "soft touch" and camped out on her deck waiting for biscuits. Pat also fully embraced her new Alaska family, including children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

After her husband George passed away in 1999, Pat wanted to do something in his memory that would benefit both the medical community and the town that made him feel so welcome. She donated $200,000 to the Bartlett Regional Hospital Foundation to start the Reifenstein Dialysis Center which opened in 2003. Pat was an active member of P.E.O., Chapter D, and regular attendee at St. Paul's Catholic Church.

For the last year, in declining health, Pat resided at the Helping Hands Healing Heart assisted living home under the warm and loving care of Julie Delaplain and the Delaplain family. Pat's family wishes to acknowledge the many kindnesses shown by Auke Lake neighborhood friends, her supporting friends from Saint Paul's, her P.E.O. sisters and many others.

Pat is survived by her stepson George Reifenstein Jr. (Deborah); son-in-law Roger Porto (Janet Argevitch); along with grandchildren Debbie Lynn Hutcherson (Michael); Ami Reifenstein (Scott Gende)-all of Juneau; Heidi Reifenstein (Wayne Leighty) of Anchorage; Peter Reifenstein (Scarlett) of Rogersville, Tennessee; Stephen Porto of North Augusta, South Carolina; great-grandchildren Taylor Simons of Rock Island, Illinois; Gavin and Tatum Gende of Juneau; sister Gloria Schmeling and brother John Seibert (Therese) of Detroit, Michigan; and numerous nieces and nephews in California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Ohio.

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 20th, at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 9055 Atlin Drive, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Internment will take place in late August when Pat's ashes will be placed with her husband George's in a columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made either to the Gastineau Humane Society Second Chance Fund, 7705 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK 99801 or to P.E.O. Chapter D, for a nursing scholarship, at PO Box 33613, Juneau, AK 99803.

The family can be contacted in care of George Reifenstein, Jr., 4202 Auke Lane, Juneau, AK 99801.