WILLIAM J. PATTERSON

William J. Patterson San Francisco Philanthropist and Investor, Dies at Age 48 William J. Patterson, a prominent San Francisco investor and philanthropist who led the effort to revitalize the California Academy of Sciences, died on Friday, September 24, 2010 at age 48 surrounded by his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children. The cause of death was a brain tumor. Mr. Patterson's unwavering commitment to making a difference in the world was illuminated by his community leadership, his environmentally focused philanthropy, and the building of a highly successful investment partnership. His intellectual gifts and his ability to lead others towards positive change were reflected in his active involvement with a wide variety of local and national organizations. From a young age, Mr. Patterson displayed a natural talent for leadership and excellence. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Patterson spent his childhood in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he developed his reverence for the outdoors that led to his becoming an avid sportsman and environmentalist. Mr. Patterson went on to attend Harvard College, graduating magna cum laude in 1984. In his senior year at Harvard he was Co-Captain of the Varsity Lightweight Crew and President of the A.D. Club. After graduating, he studied economics for one year at Australia National University in Canberra, Australia as a Rotary Foundation Scholar. After working for Goldman, Sachs & Co., he attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business, graduating as an Arjay Miller Scholar in 1989. Mr. Patterson was named a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute in 2004. Upon graduating Stanford, Mr. Patterson went to work with John H. Scully and William E. Oberndorf. In 1991 they founded SPO Partners & Co., which has become one of the nation's leading investment partnerships. During his tenure, Mr. Patterson helped lead a number of extremely successful investments and the firm's assets grew from a modest $40 million to over $8 billion. At the time of his death, he served as a Managing Director of SPO Partners, Chairman of the Board of Calpine Corporation and was a director of Rosewood Hotels and Resorts. Mr. Patterson was a former board member of the Plum Creek Timber Company, where he played an instrumental role in the repositioning and growth of that business. "Bill's extraordinary intelligence, confidence and leadership permeated SPO Partners & Co. from the first day he joined us," said John H. Scully. "His passion for excellence and hard work coupled with his warmth and core humanitarian instincts made him truly inspirational to the many he touched. He is, simply stated, irreplaceable." As Chair of the Board of Trustees of the California Academy of Sciences, Mr. Patterson led the revitalization of this nationally known institution. His leadership helped the Academy complete its $500 million capital campaign last year to build its widely praised new home in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and greatly expand its environmentally based education programs. "Bill radiated a kind of incandescent presence and an irrepressible optimism that energized all those who worked with him," said Gregory C. Farrington, the Academy's Executive Director. "At the Academy, as in all aspects of his life, he wasn't just doing a job. He was expressing a passion. It showed." As a former trustee and board president of the Bay Area Discovery Museum, Mr. Patterson was keenly involved in a major capital campaign to expand and further develop this institution, which has become nationally acclaimed as a leading children's museum. Mr. Patterson also chaired the Stanford Business School Trust, served as a member of the Advisory Council for the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford, and with his wife, Elizabeth, he endowed a professorship in the field of energy and the environment at Harvard College. Mr. Patterson's extensive community involvement also included serving as chair of the investment committee of the Marin Community Foundation, a committee member and supporter of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and wide ranging charitable support for numerous non-profit organizations. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and partner, who vastly touched so many with his warmth, generosity of spirit, and zest for living. Mr. Patterson was an avid runner, collected wine, kept bees, and embraced remote travel and discovery to continually learn about the world around him. In addition to his wife of 23 years, Mr. Patterson is survived by his children, William, Eleanor and Graham. He is also survived by his mother, Joan T. McNab of Aspen, Colorado, his father, Dr. William R. Patterson of Grand Junction, Colorado and his siblings Robin J. Blackwood of Bozeman, Montana and Thomas A. Patterson of Portola Valley, California. A memorial service will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. Patterson's name to either the California Academy of Sciences or a charitable organization of their choice. For more information, please contact Krista Martin, SPO Partners & Co., 415-384-2291, krista.martin@spopartners.com.