Patience (Pat) Anne Schenck

Pat Schenck passed away at Friends House Retirement Community in Sandy Spring, MD, just after her 88th birthday, following a struggle with cancer. Pat touched the lives of so many with her wisdom, love, and commitment to social justice.

Born in Des Moines, IA, Pat was the daughter of Elaine and James Garretson and the eldest of five siblings. She was devoted to her two children and their spouses, John (Ben) Schenck and Ama Rogan of New Orleans, and Sarah Schenck and Christian Baessler of Konstanz, Germany, as well as her three grandchildren, Lily Baessler, and Rogan and Ida Schenck. Pat was predeceased by her parents and her sister Deborah Garretson, and is survived by her children, grandchildren, and siblings Peter (Carole) Garretson of Bloomington, IN, Nancy (Richard) Benzon of Dallas, TX, and Elisabeth (Robert) Lehr of Essex, VT, and brother-in-law, John Venne of Bloomington, IN. Her beloved life partner, Ted Riley, passed away just a few weeks later on August 19 at Friends House.

Pat grew up in Hamilton and Park Forest, IL. She moved to Annapolis in 1955 to attend St. John's College, where she earned her BA and met her late former husband, Peter Schenck. Pat went on to complete her MA in Education from the University of Chicago.

Pat's teaching experience ranged from inner city Chicago schools to Key School in Annapolis. Following a career change, she was director of continuing education at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists until her retirement.

A devoted Quaker, Pat was guided by the fundamental values of Quakerism throughout her life. She was active in Annapolis Friends Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, and the broader Quaker community. Known in Annapolis for her social justice work, Pat served on the Human Rights Commission, Conflict Resolution Center, and Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform. She was very proud to receive the 2017 Peace Maker Award from The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Maryland.

As one Friend noted: "We never know when we're entertaining angels. For me, that angel was Pat Schenck. I celebrate her life and the countless lives she uplifted."

A memorial will be held on September 28 at 2:00 pm at Friends House (more information on the calendar at annapolisfriends.org). Her ashes will be interred in the meeting house memorial garden. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Right Sharing of World Resources (rswr.org) in memory of Pat.