Florence Esther Patten

1935 - 2016

Patten, Florence

Esther

Issaquah, WA: Died July 31, 2016 in Seattle, WA. Florence Esther Woodworth was born January 27, 1935, in Albany, Oregon to Dr. Marshall M. Woodworth and Janet Chalmers Woodworth. Florence graduated from Albany High School in 1953. She went on to graduate from the University of Oregon, Eugene in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in general science and a Phi Beta Kappa key, followed by a certificate in Medical Technology and later a certification as a Cytotechnologist (medical microscopist in cancer detection) both from the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland. She moved to Seattle, Washington and became the first Cytotechnologist employed by the University of Washington, University Hospital, helping to establish the first school of Cytotechnology at that institution. Later she was recruited by the University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, School of Medicine and Dentistry to become the first "non-physician" faculty member in the history of that institution, holding appointments, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1970 -1990.

In 1979, Florence married the love of her life, Stanley F. Patten, Jr, MD, PhD and they shared a remarkable life and love until his premature death, January 1997.

In 1990 Stan and Florence retired from the University of Rochester and relocated to Issaquah, Washington and the Providence Point Retirement Community.

Stan and Florence continued their work in cancer detection and cytopathology at first at Laboratory of Pathology and Swedish Hospital, Seattle Campus and with NeoPath, Inc., a new bioengineering firm helping to develop the very first automated imaging device able to pre-screen Pap smears. Following Stan's death in 1997, Florence became manager of Cytopathology R&D for NeoPath. She continued her lifelong work until 2002. She then became Vice President for Clinical Research at Vision Gate, Inc, another new medical imaging company, a position held until she retired March 27, 2013.

Florence was very active in professional organizations including the American Society of Cytopathology, where she edited the monthly newsletter for 10 years, and was awarded a "lifetime achievement" award in 1979. She was a founding member and national President of the American Society for Cytotechnology in 1982. She was also active in the International Academy of Cytology winning the prestigious "Cytotechnologist Award" of that organization in 1978. Florence was always deeply interested in preservation of animal and undersea life being an experienced and certified SCUBA diver and a volunteer docent at the Seattle Woodland Park Zoo for many years.

While Florence had no children of her own, she deeply loved and nurtured Stan's 3 daughters and their families, Lesley Patten (husband Crane Stookey), Pamela Patten-Haus, and Susan Patten (husband Richard MacLeod) and granddaughters Karin Haus, Lily MacLeod and Ruby MacLeod.

Florence loved volunteering and helping make life better for the less fortunate by knitting sweaters for the Issaquah Clothing Bank and tending to the spiritual and physical needs of her beloved friends and neighbors over the years. She also volunteered her time at the Issaquah Food Bank after she retired from her final position with Vision Gate.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2016, at University Presbyterian Church, 4540 15th Ave. NE, in Seattle, WA. Florence will be inurned beside Stan in the columbarium at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA. Memorials may be made to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center or the Seattle Union Gospel Mission. Arrangements by Flintoft's Funeral Home, Issaquah, WA.

Please visit www.flintofts.com to sign the online guest book and share a memory of Florence.