Patricia Brazil Lager

marietta - Patricia (Patti) Lager, 79, formerly of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away peacefully, on October 14, 2023, surrounded by her beloved children. She was a pioneer in the field of social work, a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother.

Patti was born on September 21, 1944, to Geraldine and Maurice Brazil in Fort Worth, Texas. She was the eldest of three siblings and relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida where she remained until her college years. It was when she attended Florida State University that her love story began. She was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority when she met her true love, Thomas Lager. They fell in love and eventually settled in Tallahassee after his tour in Vietnam. It was in Tallahassee that they raised their two children, Sean and Tiffany.

Social work was Patti's true passion. She obtained a B.A. in 1967 and a Master's in Social Work in 1983 from Florida State University. She transitioned from work in the areas of mental health and child welfare to faculty in the College of Social Work at FSU. She pioneered the College of Social Work's first International Program's CEU course in London, England for professional social workers and would later expand these offerings to France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Switzerland. Patti continued her professional growth on the international stage at FSU, offering training in countries all over the world on child welfare as well as authoring two textbooks on the subject while continuing to teach. In 2011, on the verge of retirement, Patti transitioned to the role of Director of International Programs in the College of Social Work. After her official retirement from FSU, Patti continued her global adventures with her husband Tom. They eventually relocated to Georgia to be closer to her children and grandchildren whom affectionally called her Mimi.

Patti was an extraordinary woman who was adored tremendously by her husband Tom, son Sean (Cathryn), daughter Tiffany Wyttenbach (Ron) as well as her grandchildren Tatiana, Rocco and Perry. She was preceded in death by her husband Tom earlier this year. She will forever be remembered for her advocacy, her contribution to the field of social work and the love she gave as a mother and grandmother to her very last breath.

A graveside service for immediate family will be held at Georgia National Cemetery followed by a celebration of life in Tallahassee in the new year. Please send any letters of condolences to Patti's daughter, Tiffany, at the following address: 12115 Lonsdale Lane, Roswell, Georgia 30075. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in her name.