Mr. Robert J. Patterson

Robert Joseph Patterson, aged 77, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2024, at his home in Melbourne Beach, Florida. He was born on November 16th, 1946, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Glenn R. and Dorothy L. Patterson. He was raised in Harrisburg and graduated from Susquehanna Township High School in 1964. He then attended Penn State University from 1964-1967. In 1967 he joined the United States Army Engineer School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he studied surveying until he was deployed to Vietnam in 1968. He earned a medal of commendation and a purple heart for his army service. He married Barbara Merwin in 1970, in Harrisburg. He finished his undergraduate degree at Elizabethtown College in 1972 and obtained his masters degree in Professional Accountancy in 1983 from Loyola University Maryland. He worked as an accountant in private practice and then as Head of Internal Audit and Assistant Vice President at the Fidelity and Deposit Company (later Zurich) in Baltimore, Maryland from 1982 to 2003.
Robert and Barbara called Baltimore home for many years, living in Roland Park. Robert served on the boards of the Baltimore Museum of Industry and the Downtown Sailing Center. He was a long time member of the St. Andrew's Society of Baltimore, where he served as president from 1995-1997. Robert was also a mason and a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. He and his family attended Roland Park Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Trustee and later on the Session. Robert enjoyed golfing, cooking, woodworking, fishing, traveling, and spending time at the family cottage in Ontario, Canada. He moved to Melbourne Beach, Florida in 2014 where he enjoyed golfing regularly and became an avid supporter of the Sea Turtle Conservancy. He was a life-long learner, who enjoyed history and science and employed his creative problem-solving to every aspect of his life.
Robert was predeceased by Barbara Patterson. He is survived by his daughter, Stacy Montgomery, son-in-law John Montgomery, grandson Logan and granddaughter Isabel; as well as his brother, Thomas Patterson, nephews Sam Patterson and Troy Holdin, and his partner Suza Talbot.
Funeral services will be held at Roland Park Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, August 23rd at 4pm. A graveside commitment ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 24th at 11am at the Lower Tuscarora Church and Cemetery in Mifflin, Pennsylvania.