STEPHEN J. PATTERSON III

1944 - 2016

PATTERSON, III - Stephen J.passed away on February 15, 2016 after heroically battling cancer. He was born on July 11, 1944 in New York, New York to Stephen J. and Helen T. Patterson. Steve grew up in Roslyn and Bellport, New York. After graduating from Colgate University, he joined the United States Army and served in Vietnam. He was the recipient of numerous commendations, including the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star for Valor, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal. Upon completion of his military service, Steve went on to be Chairman of the Board of the Patterson Energy Group, a highly respected and well-known Long Island oil company. He also served as President of the Metropolitan Energy Council and President of the New York Oil and Heating Association. Steve was incredibly dedicated to his family. He is survived by his best friend and wife of twenty-five years, Sherry; son, Kyle; daughter, Tammy (Chris) Hayon; daughter, Tara (Chris) Malanga; and grandchildren, Carley, Travis, Ella and Ava; as well as his mother, Helen T. Patterson and sisters, Sandra (Bud) Secord and Penny Patterson. Steve was preceded in death by his father, Stephen J. Patterson II and his brother, James B. Patterson. Steve was truly committed to the Riverhead community. He offered his leadership to many local organizations and served as President of the Board of Directors of Aid to the Developmentally Disabled, President of the Riverhead Library Board of Trustees, a member of Riverhead Development Corporation, a member of Riverhead Industrial Development Agency, a member of Board of Directors of East End Arts Council, and a member of the Board of the Riverhead Community Awareness Program, among other volunteer positions.He was a loyal friend who loved to travel. He had a great sense of humor and defined the consummate gentleman. He loved champagne and following the stock market. One of his proudest accomplishments was climbing to the peak of Mount Kiliamanjaro with a group of fellow Riverhead adventurers. A memorial service will be held at The Baiting Hollow Congregational Church, 2416 Sound Ave, Baiting Hollow, New York at 10am on February 27. A visitation will be held at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home, 336 Marcy Ave, Riverhead, New York on February 25 from 7pm-9pm and February 26 from 2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and International Surgical Mission Support.