Patricia Lee Engle

Patricia Lee Engle, 67, an internationally recognized early child development expert who spent her life circling the globe helping developing nations improve nutritional and educational opportunities for children, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, after a year-long battle against lung cancer. Dr. Engle did research and program implementation work in Guatemala, India and many other nations as senior adviser for early childhood development for the United Nations Children's Educational Fund, UNICEF; and chaired the Psychology Department at Cal Poly. Her work also embraced women''s empowerment, the role of fathers and their effects on children's development. Dr. Engle is survived by her son, Dr. Sawyer Fuller of Cambridge, Mass.; husband, Henry Hammer of Los Osos; twin sister, Prof. Sally Engle Merry of Wellesley, Mass,; brother, Prof. Robert Fry Engle III of New York City and La, Jolla, Calif.; nieces Prof. Lindsey Engle Richland and Sarah Merry; nephews Joshua Engle Merry and Jordan Engle; and several great nephews. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at the Trout Farm, 16550 Oracle Oak Way in Santa Margarita; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, at Center for Spiritual Life, New York University, 238 Thompson St. in New York City.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to aid dissertations on child development in low and middle income countries through the Patrice Engle Fund at the Society for Research in Child Development: SRCD-Patrice Engle Fund, 2950 S. State St. Ste 40, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104 or Rburd@SRDC.org.