Patricia "Pat" Harwick

1943 - 2018

Patricia "Pat" Harwick

Shelburne - Pat passed away on January 27 with her soulmate Ray at her side. She was born on June 29, 1943 in Jamestown, New York to a schoolteacher mother and a military father. Pat is survived by her adoring husband Ray; son Robin Sommers with wife Cassandra and granddaughters Riley and Gillian; and daughter Guinevere Leeder with husband Jeff and grandchildren Paul and Elizabeth. She is also survived by her sister Gail Anderson and will be missed by her two cats, Abby and Shaggy.

Pat graduated from high school in Towson, MD before earning a BA in Social Psychology (Cornell) and an MS in Social Psychiatry (Purdue). Her professional career began as a Psychology Instructor in a Law Enforcement program at the University of New Haven. But her real calling was to the ministry, and she completed an MS in Divinity (Yale) before embarking on a life in the church.

Following ordination, her first calling was by the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ to work in the department of Mission and Stewardship. Later, she found that her gifts were best used to help churches through a fund-raising ministry. She joined Ray Harwick in his ministry, both spiritually and in marriage. Over the next 20 years, their team approach assisted churches in raising over $200 million for infrastructure, mission, and programs.

Pat dedicated herself to volunteer activities including Vermont Public Radio, Vermont Public Television, the Vermont Youth Orchestra, the Mozart Festival, the First Congregational Church Choir and Stewardship Committee, and provided leadership for many activities at Wake Robin in Shelburne, including serving as Resident Association President in 2014-2015. Her special interests included counted cross-stitch embroidery, travel, and playing her harp and hammered dulcimer in concerts with Ray. She enjoyed walking the wonderful trails at Wake Robin and Meach Cove.

A celebration of Pat's life will be held at First Congregational Church, 38 South Winooski Ave, Burlington, VT 05401. The service will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 10. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Vermont Youth Orchestra.