Patricia Ann Blumenthal

August 29, 1927 - May 11, 2024 Patricia ("Patty") Ann (nee Whitney) Blumenthal, 96, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2024, after a brief illness.

Patty was born August 29, 1927 to Pauline Kirk and William Wallace Whitney in Los Angeles, California. After losing her father at age six months and enduring a difficult childhood brought on by the Great Depression, Patty graduated cum laude from UCLA on June 16, 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts in General Elementary Education and went on to receive her teaching credential. Between graduation and her first job as an elementary school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Patty decided to engage with her love of music and, blessed with a lovely singing voice, Patty auditioned for the elite Roger Wagner Chorale. She was promptly accepted as a member and spent several cherished months touring and performing live with the group, her crowning achievement being a live performance at the famed Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

On December 20, 1955, Patty married Robert (Bob) Blumenthal, whom she had known throughout high school and college, and with whom she had corresponded while Bob served as Naval Lieutenant Commander in the Korean War. They had three children, Marti, Tom and Jim.

Having experienced being an only child and living with just one parent, Patty was eager to create a large family for whom she could be a dedicated and nurturing mother, a role in which she delighted. She was equally talented at and passionate about teaching and education, never missing an opportunity to share teachable moments and help both gifted and challenged learners of all kinds reach their potential and expand their horizons.

More than anything, Patty thrived on being part of a community, whether it was family or friends or church and service organizations. She attracted accomplished and wonderful friends with whom she loved to socialize. She never forgot a birthday or special date and was meticulous about keeping in touch, often with specially chosen cards and sometimes a thoughtful gift. Being connected to others was a central part of Patty's life. She had a unique ability to become a mother figure to anyone. Sensing her nurturing personality, complete strangers automatically gravitated to her. Even close relatives who never experienced this warmth and welcoming trust within their own families, bonded with and were forever devoted to Patty.

Once the kids were grown, Patty returned to college to study for her Masters of Arts degree in Education. And, once again, she graduated with honors on June13, 1981, from California State Polytechnic University. Shortly thereafter, when Bob accepted a business professorship at Seattle Pacific University, Patty relocated to the Pacific Northwest with her husband.

Patty's passion for education and for educating a broad range of students of disparate ages and differing stages of intellectual development, culminated in a successful, late-life career as an educator/consultant for students struggling with various learning challenges. She excelled in this role and helped her many clients to find confidence and success along the way. Simultaneously, Patty's conviction in the transformative nature of education led her to meaningful work with inmates at a local prison and, ultimately, to receive an exciting job offer to educate workers in transition during a corporate re-structuring from Boeing Aerospace Corporation. This was her coup de grace, Patty was 81 at the time!

When Patty wasn't working, socializing with friends or creating a warm and welcoming home, she could be found volunteering with local community organizations or arranging conferences for fellow educators on the importance of education, along with new and exciting developments in the study of brain function.

Patty was pre-deceased by her parents, her husband, Bob, and her brother Harry. She is survived by her children, her grandchildren, beloved cousins and her many treasured friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Seattle Pacific University Blumenthal Endowment Fund at spu.edu/give-to-spu Designate: Other/Patricia W. Blumenthal Endowment.