Patricia Evans

Renowned Author Patricia Evans Passes Away at 83

Patricia Evans, an internationally recognized author whose groundbreaking books brought the subject of verbal abuse to the forefront of American consciousness, passed away peacefully on June 10th at the age of 83. Born in 1940, Evans' gift of communication and her remarkable insights laid the foundation for her coming contributions to our worldview of domestic abuse.

Drawing upon research of more than 30,000 cases of verbally abusive relationships, she provided clarity about the impact of verbal abuse and a plan and a process for recovery. Patricia Evans also delivered hundreds of keynote addresses throughout the country. Her body of work has been lauded as "Powerful and Life-changing."

Themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of words resonated with readers worldwide. Newsweek commended her first powerful book on the subject, The Verbally Abusive Relationship: How to Recognize it and How to Respond (1992), expanded edition (1996), as "A groundbreaking new book." This and later books are available throughout the US, Canada, England, Mexico, Germany, Spain, France and in the Chinese Language. This critical and commercial success launched a prolific career that spanned over three decades, her books earning top spots on the New York Times bestseller list.

Evans spoke on the devastating effects of verbal abuse, a secret form of control, on more than two hundred radio programs, and seventeen national television shows, including the Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, Sonya Live-CNN, News Talk, and in Newsweek and O, The Oprah Magazine.

Her second book, Verbal Abuse Survivors Speak Out: On Relationship and Recovery (1993), explored the subject of verbal abuse in depth and has earned a permanent place in schools, in the libraries of all health professionals, and in the heart and mind of every reader.

Both books were presented to the academic community at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Interpersonal Speech Communication Association, November 1994, New Orleans. In a joint project with the Safe Schools Center in Florida, Evans designed workshops for teachers and students to create a climate free of hostility and harassment. She spoke to groups throughout the US, Canada, and in Madrid at the "Commission for the Investigation of Violence Against Women" as well as in five cities in Australia. Patricia Evans authored six books over the course of her life, and her massive online forum supports over 7000 women.

Her third book, Controlling People (2003), also achieved critical acclaim. Dr. David L. Quinby, Professor, Emeritus, Dept. of Psychology, Youngstown State University, praised it, "Humankind urgently needs this, both on an individual and a collective level. Nothing else seems to be working very effectively."

Her fourth book, Teen Torment (2003), fifth book, The Verbally Abusive Man - Can He Change? (2006) and her sixth book, Victory Over Verbal Abuse: A Healing Guide to Renewing Your Spirit and Reclaiming Your Life (2011), empower readers to move toward the life they want, far from wounding words.

Patricia Evans enjoyed life in northern California and was fiercely dedicated to bringing clarity to interpersonal communications. Evans guarded her privacy while nurturing a genuine connection with the women and men who turned to her for clarity and guidance.

She leaves behind a legacy of powerful, healing works that will continue to inspire and resonate for generations to come. Patricia is survived by six loving children, her sister, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many other relatives.

She was predeceased by her parents and her brother. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local shelter that helps families become free of domestic abuse and to carry on Patricia's Legacy.