Patricia Edgerton

Patricia Edgerton

Patricia Edgerton Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Mar. 18, 2010.
EDGERTON , Patricia Patricia "Pat" Jones Edgerton died peacefully at home on March 16, 2010 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Pat was born on September 11, 1923 in Forest Hills, NY. Although the past few years have been difficult, Pat had a wonderful life, and will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, W. Alton Jones, Nettie Marie Jones, and her only sister Elizabeth Marie Jones. Survivors include her devoted husband of 65 years, Milt Edgerton, and their children, Brad Edgerton of Beverly Hills CA, Bill Edgerton of Charlottesville, VA, Sandy Edgerton Bissell of Lake Placid, NY, and Diane Edgerton Miller of Charlottesville, VA. Additional survivors include, Louise Edgerton, Liza Edgerton, Chip Bissell, Ethan Miller, Ford Edgerton, Lauren Edgerton, Catherine Kay, Oliver Kay, Robert Kelleher, Todd Edgerton, Tracy Edgerton, Leigh Edgerton, Sage Bissell, Whit Bissell, Zach Miller, Sarah Miller, Madeline Miller, Stephanie Miller, and Potter Edgerton. Throughout her life, Pat loved the outdoors, and all activities that allowed her to enjoy the beauty of the natural world. Her athletic prowess developed early, and as a young girl, Pat was a star field-hockey player at the Miss Harris School for Girls in Cocoanut Grove, FL. Regular visits to Lake Placid, NY resulted in a lifelong passion for the Adirondacks. She climbed mountains, swam in the cold waters of Lake Placid (early every morning!), golfed, played tennis, rode horses, skied, and succeeded in sharing her love for those beautiful lakes and mountains with family and friends alike. After graduating with an AB from Bryn Mawr College in 1943, Pat became a research assistant in hematology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. It was there she met Milt Edgerton, and they were married June of 1945. During two years as the wife of an army surgeon at Valley Forge Hospital, Pat found the time to complete her MA in Chemistry while teaching at Bryn Mawr College. After the war, Pat and Milt returned to Baltimore where he completed his surgery training, and they raised their four children. Pat and her family lived in Baltimore for 23 years before moving to Charlottesville, Virginia when Milt was recruited to chair the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Virginia Medical School. Pat was promised a horse as a "reward" for making this move. In order to "house" the horse, the family moved to Timbercreek Farm (named after Pat's horse) where she and Milt spent the next 34 years. Pat greatly enjoyed membership in the Albemarle Garden Club and as a strong protector of the environment developed a tree farm, planting thousands of species of trees that she hoped might survive changes occurring as a result of global climate change. For nearly a quarter of a century, Pat chaired the W. Alton Jones Foundation, originally started by her father in 1944. Under Pat's leadership, the Foundation engaged as a philanthropy focused on the preservation of global biodiversity, and the prevention of nuclear war. Above all, Pat loved her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her great grandson, her many friends, and her cocker spaniel "Bandit". Pat's family wishes to thank to all of the wonderful nurses and the whole "team" at Timbercreek Farm that have helped her and loved her so during these past few years.
The family will receive friends at Timbercreek Farm from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday (3/20/2010). A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) www.jabacares.org (434) 817-5222.

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Sign Patricia Edgerton's Guest Book

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May 24, 2010

Mary Adams O'Connell posted to the memorial.

March 22, 2010

Mary Jo Woods posted to the memorial.

March 21, 2010

Alison Hymes posted to the memorial.

Mary Adams O'Connell

May 24, 2010

To the dear Edgerton Family we extend heartfelt sympathies. Pat was so welcoming to me and our family when we moved to Charlottesville in the mid-1970's (my ex-husband was a resident with Dr. Edgerton). Our families, including my parents, became wonderful friends over the years. One of my fondest memories of Pat is the week we spent on the farm in a guest house - my two daughters and I - just before we moved away. Her home was a magical place for Pat. I picture her playing with her rambunctous black Rottweiler Tarbaby. What a lovely bright gracious woman. We will miss her.

Mary Jo Woods

March 22, 2010

For the enite Edgerton family, I extend my heartfelt sympathies but especially to Dr. Edgerton. I am a former childhood patient of yours who should have contacted your sooner with my thanks. You changed my life and helped enable me to be the person I am today. Thank you.
Fondly,
Mary Jo Woods

Alison Hymes

March 21, 2010

For the entire family but especially Diane Miller, classmate at Bryn Mawr. My deepest condolences and empathy at this sad time.

March 20, 2010

"All Mankind is in Patricia Edgerton’s debt for the extraordinary contribution her W. Alton Jones Foundation made, for two decades, to the avoidance of a U.S.-Soviet Union nuclear war that threatened to destroy the planet. Under her chairmanship, the Foundation moved from ordinary philanthropy to a steady stream of well-conceived grants to activist organizations working on the greatest threat that Mankind has ever faced.

She developed a superb staff and they made excellent choices of beneficiaries. The Foundation became, without a doubt, one of the most important foundations in the world working in this critical area. And her beneficiaries made real and important progress in stabilizing the nuclear balance and organizing better superpower relations.

It is a miracle that the four-decade-long Cold War did not erupt into the general nuclear war that the entire world feared. Patricia Edgerton’s perception of the need for these grants and her commitment to providing them over half the period of that confrontation were a significant part of that miracle.

Jeremy J. Stone
President, Federation of American Scientists (FAS) 1970-2000
President, Catalytic Diplomacy 1999-2009

Bettie Snider Martin

March 19, 2010

My heartfelt sympathy goes to the family of Mrs. Edgerton, especially Bill and Brad. I worked for sometime for The Jones Foundation, starting when its offices were moved to Charlottesville from NYC. During my years there, I remember many occasions of working closely with Mrs. Alton Jones, then President of the Foundation, as well as Bill and his mother, Mrs. Edgerton, who was Vice President of the Foundation. I moved from Charlottesville in 1987 and presently live in Haymarket, VA, retiring in 2002 and enjoying each moment of my new life. I feel fortunate to have known and worked with such wonderful people. May God bless all of you with many special memories of your wife, mother and grandmother.

Karen Waters

March 18, 2010

On behalf of the board and staff of the Quality Community Council, we offer our prayers and deepest condolences are to all of Mrs. Edgerton's family and friends. She will forever be in our hearts with deep admiration for a life well-lived, and her courage to make a difference for all who have been and are yet to be touched by her legacy of global stewardship.

March 18, 2010

Words cannot express how Mrs. Edgerton and her entire family have touched me personally & the lives of my family. Mrs. Edgerton has painted a beautiful collage of memories on my soul. The heart of these memories is rich with art, orchids, animals, & most of all FAMILY. The world has lost an impressive & inspiring woman who has spent a life decorating the world with her style, her grace & her compassion. We miss you dearly & extend our deepest condolences to the entire Edgerton family. The Iafollas

blue moon

March 18, 2010

We at blue moon will miss her dearly. The passion, soul, heart, and integrity Pat brought to this world will always be an inspiration for us. We pledge to continue her legacy by renewing our commitment to the causes to which she dedicated her life. Our thoughts are with all of her family and friends now.

Joseph Taylor

March 18, 2010

On behalf of Governor Baliles, the boards and staff of the Miller Center of Public Affairs and Miller Center Foundation, we mourn the passing of Pat Edgerton, a dear friend, and offer sincere condolences to Milt Edgerton and the entire Edgerton Family.

Lisa Stewart

March 18, 2010

Very sorry to hear that Pat has left this world. She certainly did far more than her fair share to make it a better place than she found it. I will always remember her fondly. My heart goes out to all the family. Lisa Stewart

Rosa Lee McAllister

March 18, 2010

My thought and prayers go out to all of the family. I can't begin to say all that is in my heart, because of all the love and support that was given to my dad(Russel Batten) and our family.

BECKY & FORREST HYRE

March 18, 2010

TO THE EDGERTON FAMILY:

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME. PAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON. EMBRACE THOSE MEMORIES.

Lucinda Wood

March 18, 2010

I was saddened to hear of Pat's passing. She will truly be missed by many. My life was greatly enriched during my time of working there and knowing her. My deepest sympathy goes out to her family.

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Sign Patricia Edgerton's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

May 24, 2010

Mary Adams O'Connell posted to the memorial.

March 22, 2010

Mary Jo Woods posted to the memorial.

March 21, 2010

Alison Hymes posted to the memorial.