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BORN
1931
DIED
2025
Patricia Willy Obituary
03/17/1931 - 05/04/2025
Patricia Willy of Alamo, California passed away May 4, 2025 at her home. As a child she lived in Malaysia, Jamaica, and Great Britain. She came to the US after marrying Professor Todd Willy, whom she met at the British Institute of Archeology, and she was one of the last immigrants to pass through Ellis Island before its closure in 1954. She and Todd had three children together, John, Alison, and Edward. In 1970 she divorced but remained in Alamo with her children. Throughout the years, she enjoyed teaching dressage, working in the Peace Corps, protesting for peace and civil rights, and working for environmental causes around the country. At the end of her career she taught ESL in the MDUSD. Pat loved world travel and in her retirement she made several trips to Europe, Africa, Central and South America. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter.
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Memories and Condolences
for Patricia Willy
Connie Goss
June 3, 2025
Pat was a formative influence on me in my teen years. Nine years ago I wrote the following on Facebook after visiting her in California for the first time in decades. I was lucky to have known Pat and will miss her greatly.
July 19, 2016
I feel like I should call this photo "historic." There I am between two of my favorite people - left to right, Pat Willy, me, and Martha Lovell Olling on my recent trip to California. Pat taught Martha and me to ride in the early 70's. I was 16 and had just bought my first horse (so of course I knew everything already, right?) when Martha introduced me to Pat, who no doubt saved me from my own ignorance many times over. She taught us both solid riding basics, the responsibility of ownership, and real respect for and understanding of the horse - as well as imparting a great deal of common sense and life wisdom along the way. And she did it with great style, wit, and an irresistible British accent. Everyone should have such a mentor in their life. What a pleasure it was to see her again - hardly changed - still living in the same house where Martha and I spent so many summer afternoons, stopping in on our way home from the stable after a long hot trail ride in the Mt. Diablo foothills.
Bill Bombria
May 11, 2025
I met Pat in the mid-nineties when we were both in the teacher credential program at Cal State, Hayward. She was a born teacher and I enjoyed exploring different parks and trails together with her sharing so many fascinating stories about anything and everything we were seeing. We went to Mexico together. She was fearless and enthusiastic wherever we went. I will miss playing Scrabble with her. She was a very good friend.
Cathy Stevenson
May 11, 2025
My family members were close friends with Pat. My mom, Anna Pauline Conlin and Pat rode horseback together and they shared many adventures as well. Despite their age difference, they were "besties". One time they went to Hayfork to see a mutual friend who lived in Hyampom. They stayed in a hotel in Hayfork and partied with the locals. They always tended to find time for an adventure. We all loved Pat. Here are the two of them in the woods, a favorite place for both.
Art
May 11, 2025
Pat was not only my best friend's mother, but my friend. She always had time for me and I will always cherish the times we spent together.
Donna Willy
May 11, 2025
Patricia aka:Mo taught me the beginning of dressage, which I have continued as well as her great granddaughter. We will miss her stories of riding the Queens horses in London. Rest in peace Mo.
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