Alicia Acampora

Alicia Acampora

January 22, 2018

Alicia Patterson of Newtown Square, PA, died after a long illness surrounded by her family at home on January 22nd. She was 72.

Mrs. Acampora was born in Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia, the daughter of Francis Lytton Patterson III of Glenside, Penn., and Betty Lee (Leggett) of St. Louis, and grew up in Pennsylvania and Delaware. She was a graduate of the Sanford School in Wilmington, received her Bachelor of Arts from Rosemont College, Rosemont, Penn., and her Masters of Social Work from Bryn Mawr College.

A social worker for three decades, Mrs. Acampora worked for Easter Seals and MARC Children's Services before her retirement. She was certified in French cooking by L'Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris, France, opened a stall in the Lancaster County Farmer's Market in Wayne called The Brown Bag Café, and ran her own catering and custom cake business, The Social Worker.

She met husband Vincent Acampora over their shared love of good food which later influenced their travel destinations and led them to Rancho Mirage, Calif., where they own a residence, to Australia and New Zealand and many places in between. She spent part of every summer since the 1970s at her family's camp on the shore of Toddy Pond in Surry, Me.

Mrs. Acampora was a woman of strong Christian faith, a member of the congregation of St. David's Episcopal Church and attended Bible study at Wayne Presbyterian. She was a longtime member of the Junior League of Philadelphia. She was a passionate activist for open adoption records. And she was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend remembered for her generosity, warmth, sweet spirit and very thoughtful nature, as well as her love for her family and many friends.

Mrs. Acampora is survived by her husband, Dr. Vincent J. Acampora of Manns Choice, Penn., and Newtown Square; a daughter, Cheryl Ann Pientka of Brooklyn, N.Y.; two sons, Eric Anderson Giesa, of Surry, Me., and Christopher Tyler Giesa, his wife, Jenny Lynne (Wilson), and their children Charles Lytton Giesa, Elisabeth Lynne Giesa, and Catherine James Giesa of Collingswood, N.J.; a sister, Pamela Nimick and her husband, Reade of West Chester; niece Whitney (Lockhart) Siddons of Frisco, Tex.; nephew, Reynolds Lockhart of Nags Head, N.C.; a brother Francis Lytton "Chip" Patterson IV and his wife Katie Ryan of Hockessin, Del., niece Megan (DiPirro) Schiff of Wilmington, and a beloved extended family. She is predeceased by her first husband, Charles Eric Giesa. She is the great-niece of the late abstract artist and co-founder of Wayne Art Center Marie "Quita" Brodhead. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to PHILABUNDANCE, 3616 South Galloway Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148; philabundance.org/donate, or to St. David's Episcopal Church, 763 Valley Forge Rd., Wayne, PA 19087; stdavidschurch.org.

A memorial service will be held at the chapel of St. David's Episcopal Church, 763 S. Valley Forge Road, Wayne, PA 19087 on Saturday, January 27th at 11 am.

STUARD FH - NEWTOWN SQUARE

Formerly of Ardmore