Patricia Alice Struck

In Memory of Patricia Alice Struck - 1/2/1932 - 1/1/2023

Pat to most, Nana to her family, P2 to some, Sis to others, and Ms. Struck to anyone else, passed peacefully on New Year's Day, 2023; one day before her 91st birthday in Sacramento, CA.

The memories, tales and legends from Pat's life are too numerous to recount here. Please feel free to add to this posting location with your own recollections and stories.

Pat was born January 2, 1932 in Pasadena, CA to Dorothy and Osborn Hand.

The best source from her early life is surviving brother Bill. Here are some of his recollections:

You are, of course, my earliest memory. We were together when Mom was grappling with single parenthood, something you, too, had to deal with in your life. So, as she worked to support us, we saw little of Mom and more of our caretakers at Glenway Ranch (San Dimas). I remember hearing about memories of you sitting in grandfather Will's lap as he read the Sunday funnies to you. And other memories of our father Osborn, who doted on you and was loved by you in return. Losing your Dad was a disaster for you and you did everything you could as a kid to keep in contact with him. When we were teenagers in San Francisco, Osborn sent each of us a framed portrait. Mine soon disappeared. Yours was lost in the fire in Grass Valley. But Betty Hand, wife of Oz's second son Dale, sent us a copy many years later. Osborn eventually became an Episcopal priest in Corning, California. Later he lived in Ft. Bragg, planning to become a salmon fisherman. He carried a medallion of St. Dorothy; Betty Hand sent that to me too. Oz died when I was at Stanford; he was buried in Livermore, California. Many years later you and I placed a headstone on his grave.

Our San Francisco years were a complete change. Pop (Jim McKeeman) was there, loyally supporting all of us. Mom left us a great memory by painting the view from our dining room window. You were soon off to college and then motherhood, while I dealt with my military obligations, fatherhood, graduate school and faculty jobs. We did spend a quality week in Santa Cruz where you learned enough FORTRAN to complete your Master's program.

My career eventually took me to the east coast, allowing us to see each other briefly only after transcontinental trips.

You eventually took on and led the difficult task of caring for the damaged young souls of California, getting them educated and accepted so that they could return to productive life. It was a career, and you were honored for your contribution. You had, by that time, married my wife Bettie's old boss, Richard Struck. Your home on the Sacramento River hosted a 4th of July weekend with a kiddo parade followed by a BBQ. Sacramento eventually needed the airspace over that house, so you set up camp in West Sacramento where you and your many descendants gathered for years. It was a regular stop for me on my rare trips to California, and it was where you and I finally had time to get to know each other as adults.

You have been blessed with family that is mostly nearby and cares for you. I am glad for that.

I now live closer to the Hand family, which has migrated back east from its earlier roots in Claremont. You missed the Hand Cousins reunion in D.C. in 1992, because you were caring for Aunt Peg. We felt you with us in spirit.

With much love, Brother Bill

A compressed history of Pat's residential adventures follows:

The SoCal years/childhood - On the Johnstone Family ranch - Glenway - in San Dimas CA and assorted other area locations, including Brown's School for Girls

The SF years /teens-college - At the Mountain Springs home on Twin Peaks, San Francisco, CA

College - San Jose State, San Jose, CA

Post College/first marriage - San Francisco CA, Berkeley CA, San Mateo CA, & Moraga CA

Country years - Grass Valley, CA

After Grass Valley house burns down/job change - Napa, CA

Working at State agencies - Sacramento, CA

River years - On the Sacramento River, CA

Post-river years, in West Sacramento, CA

Pat's residence, wherever located, was always a gathering point for friends & family. Her holiday assemblies were legend and usually involved some sort of water-borne adventure (pools, ponds, rivers, slip & slides, hot tubs, etc) weather permitting. Parking could become a logistical issue at some of the places!

Pat was married 3 times: First marriage to Don Lewis, second marriage to Jim Parnnel and third marriage to Richard Struck.

Pat's professional life became a milestone in its' own right. Here are some recollections from her friends and her work colleagues starting with Kay Haralson.

The following information is from my many memories of life with Pat Parnell-Struck. (Bamford Franklin, Deputy Director for our division and a most wonderful person, called her P2). Some are personal, and most are work related.

I first met Pat shortly after I started working in the Education Office at Porterville State Hospital (Porterville Developmental Center since the 1980s). That would be 1978. At that time two things were happening that would be a significant change for state hospitals and education in those facilities. The Department of Mental Hygiene that included all state hospitals was abolished and two new Departments were created (Developmental Services (DDS) and Mental Health (DMH)). Part of the agreement was that the Department of Developmental Services would provide administration of services for both departments via contract. The primary service, that still exists, is education. Part of the reason for keeping education in one department, I think, was the huge change that was coming to education services in state hospitals. The Congress had passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 with an implementation date set for July 1 1979.

As I recall, Pat started her career at DeWitt State Hospital in Auburn as a psychiatric technician. When DeWitt was closed along with several other state hospitals by the Reagan Administration, Pat moved to Napa. At some point along the way she got a teaching credential and an education administration credential. She taught the children's program at Napa and was promoted to Chief of the Office of Program Review which was the quality assurance unit title at the time.

When the two new departments were created, Napa served residents with mental health and developmental disabilities and was part of the DDS. Pat was asked to come to DDS headquarters and lead the implementation of the new federal special education law. This is important from both a personal and professional perspective. It was during this transition she worked on legislation regarding how California would implement the new special education law in the state hospitals. During that time she met Richard Struck who was an administrator with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and part of the CDE group.

The first meeting that I went to in Sacramento was related to the state implementation of the federal law. In the evening after the meeting the state hospital group I was invited to a social gathering at the home of the CDE staff. I did not know anyone!! Pat came up to me and introduced herself. She said something about me being the new kid on the block and new to state hospitals as well as special education in California. She said I was to stick with her and she would have my back and help me get through this. She did just that for 29 years.

Pat worked very closely with Lou Barber who was the Director of Special Education at the California Department of Education. Lou is still remembered as the one who made the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 happen in California. At some point Pat transferred to DDS headquarters from Napa. The major educational things that Pat was responsible for include:

Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 implementation in State Hospitals and developmental centers

Assisted in the writing of Assembly Bill 1202 which is now California Education Code, Part 30, Chapter 8.

Participated in program reviews and ensured programs met standards.

Wrote the first ever policy manual for education in DDS/DMH.

Lead development of STRETCH Curriculum

Worked with the California State Legislature to include lottery funding in developmental centers and state hospitals for both special education and adult education.

Lead the effort to assure that funding allocated by the Legislature for programs in state hospitals and developmental centers transferred to DDS when the Community Colleges no longer wanted to provide the programs.

Initiated DDS/DMH participation in federally funded adult education. (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Title II Adult Education and Family Literacy Act)

Here's a summary of some of Pat's other noted accomplishments (1981-2010): Designed first statewide testing for adult skills in reading & math; Secured numerous grants & allocations for implementing disabilities assessment and education; Helped write laws to assure adequate program implementation; Was a key part of developing related curriculums and new educational programs; Participated in organizational transitions and program redesign; Gained support for educational staff and salaries; was instrumental in the design and coordination of federal, state and local programs,

Pat was recognized as a thought leader and influencer in the field of developmental education.

In 1980-81 Pat represented DDS as one of the agencies in the newly formed organization known as CASAS. At the 25th anniversary of CASAS, she was recognized as one of the original CASAS Consortium members.

Personally, Pat was a tremendous mentor and friend. So many fun things we did. Some adventures too. One example. At some point after I went to the department and she was helping out there as a retired annuitant, we went to San Diego for a meeting at CASAS. This was when she was using the electric wheelchair. We could not get a wheelchair van to take us from the hotel up the canyon (steep) to the CASAS office. So...she "drove" and I walked. We got half way there all on the sidewalk and came to a place that had a utility pole "planted" in the middle of the sidewalk. Space between the pole and the fence was too small for the chair. We had to turn around, go back a bit and do the rest of the trip on the street. Lucky we didn't get run over since the street was steep AND curvy. We had a different experience at Fairview Developmental Center in Costa Mesa. No wheelchair van available to take us to dinner. After contemplating our options, we decided to go to the nearest eating establishment just down the street. So down the street we went and had a fabulous time at HOOTERS!! (Ask at the Celebration about other Pat-scooter adventures!)

One thing I wanted to mention. She was always very proud to be the descendant of a member of the California State Legislature. She wanted to give that punch bowl to the California State Museum but decided not to when she found out they would take it and put it in storage. Actually, she was really pissed off about that.

Kay Haralson

Pat's grandfather (mother's side) was William Arthur Johnstone. He was a leader in the booming citrus industry in the Inland Empire of Southern California. He was elected twice to the California Assembly in the early 1900's; in his second term he was Speaker ProTem, who takes over Floor sessions when the Speaker is not available. He also sat on the governing boards of the first Labor Commission and on the initial Water Board during his civil career. The punch bowl, which was awarded for his legislative service, is a coveted heirloom in Pat's immediate family.

Pat Rickard, Director Emeritus of CASAS said this about Pat:

I am so sorry to hear that Pat has passed away. She was a guiding light, blazing new ground in the development of assessments that were inclusive and provided the opportunity for adults with intellectual disabilities to document progress on a standardized scale that applied to all adults. She was instrumental in working with the CASAS California Consortium to initiate the development of appropriate and relevant assessments that could also be used for reporting outcomes to state and federal stakeholders and policy makers. Her leadership and advocacy was visionary and steadfast; over many years, and as a result, she made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of adults both in California and in many other states. She was a friend and colleague and I will truly miss her.

Pat Rickard

Pat is survived by numerous children, grand children & great grandchildren as well as 2 brothers. Her progeny includes:

Eldest dest daughter Brenda Butler, her daughter Courtney Pitcher & husband John, with their children Taylor & Zachary, her son Ryan Butler & wife Polly, with their children Jacob & Madison;

Middle daughter Valerie Perkins, her eldest daughter Erin Reaka and husband Jason & their son Aiden, son Adam Perkins & wife Brandy, and Val's youngest daughter Sarah Kaye Perkins;

Pat's youngest daughter Jennifer Anderson and husband Mike, son Jessie Gilliand, his wife Stacey, and their son Caleb and daughter Chloe.

Adopted foster son Grant Lewis

Surviving brothers are Bill McKeeman and Jay McKeeman

Beyond that she has extensive surviving extended family from both the Hand and Johnstone lineages. Pat touched many lives directly and indirectly - her legacy lives on in both her work and in all her surviving family, friends and acquaintances. Pat's zest for life and sense of adventure are cherished memories, for all who knew her, in her remarkable life.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday March 18th in West Sacramento. If you have not received an announcement and wish to attend, please contact Valerie Perkins, Valerie.Perkins1@aol.com, for further information.