Dr. Stefani Ruth Patten

Dr. Stefani Ruth Patten, née Schmitz, 30, of Rochester, NY died comfortably at home on 12/27/25, surrounded by her beloved family, after a courageous battle with cancer.

The elder child of Stefan and Laura Schmitz of Malta, NY, Stefani was a brilliant, driven, and uniquely kind young woman. In her youth, she was a devoted volunteer and an avid competitive swimmer, ultimately competing for William Smith College. She was a tremendously successful student, graduating as valedictorian of her high school and receiving a selective early assurance acceptance to SUNY Upstate Medical University. After finishing her medical degree, Stefani completed her Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Rochester, where she served as Chief Resident. Despite her diagnosis, Stefani chose to continue her training with a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, from which she was to graduate in 2026.

Stef was a Star Wars aficionada, a coffee zealot, and lover of all things aquatic, including SCUBA diving, paddle boarding, and kayaking. She had an adventurous spirit and treasured opportunities to explore the outdoors with friends while hiking, skiing or rock climbing. She seized every opportunity to travel, taking advantage of educational opportunities to immerse herself in Wales, Australia, Cuba, and Argentina. Anywhere she went, Stefani was known as an unrelenting purveyor of snacks and treats; her pockets were always full, and she was quick to share with friends, new and old.

Stefani's friendly disposition and selfless nature were defining traits, which shined in the intensity of the Emergency Department, where she took pride in compassionately caring for the underserved. Whether handing out extra medical supplies or personally picking up discharge medications at the pharmacy, Stef was quick to find small ways to ensure the well-being of her patients. She chose to focus on Pediatric Emergency Medicine partially because of the delight she got in helping children not just feel better but go home. Beyond caring for her patients, she was a perceptive and patient colleague, whose support and counsel was valued by many.

Stefani is survived by her husband Dr. Calvin Patten, whom she married in June of 2025, surrounded by friends and family; it was a joyous celebration and the singular best day of both of their lives. She is also survived by her parents, Stefan and Laura Schmitz, as well as her younger brother, Robert Schmitz, whom she adored; they were each other's closest friends and biggest fans. Her surviving family further includes "Oma and Opa," Helmut and Margarete Schmitz; her aunt and uncle (and godparents) Frederick and Judith Schroback; uncle Henry (Ava) Cloud; aunt Christina Schmitz; cousins Anya, Jora, and Abrei (Mike) Cloud; father and mother-in-law David and Valerie Patten; and brother-in-law, Kelsey Patten. Stefani is predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Fred and Ruthie Schroback. She will be missed by numerous friends from all stops in her journey, but most notably Sarah Honan, who went from freshman roommate to maid of honor and was a constant presence is Stefani's life. Finally, she will be greatly missed by her dog, Genny, whose love, snuggles and antics have been a source of relief and joy in challenging times.

Stefani's family greatly appreciates the innumerable doctors, nurses, and staff at Strong that worked diligently to help, treat, and support Stef over the past two years. In doing so, the staff embodied the ideals that Stefani exemplified. Thank you!

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial gift to the Dr. Stefani Patten, MD Fund for Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester by visiting giving.rochester.edu (choose 'other' and type in the fund name) or by mail to P.O. Box 270032, Rochester NY 14627-0032.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring, details to be determined.