Patricia McGlauchlin

1940 - 2025

Patricia McGlauchlin

01/07/1940 - 11/17/2025

Patricia (Smith) McGlauchlin died November 17, 2025 in Toledo, Ohio. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin on January 7, 1940, the last of four children of Frances and Garland B. Smith.

Growing up in Madison with its four beautiful lakes she learned to love snow, ice skate, ski and swim. She could walk to East High School where her father was a teacher. Influenced by her very creative father she majored in Art Education at the University of Wisconsin and upon graduation she married Tom McGlauchlin, also a teacher and artist. Both were students of ceramist Harvey Littleton, the father of the Studio Glass movement; Tom choosing glass and Pat choosing ceramics which eventually brought them together and to settle in Toledo.

At the Toledo Potters Guild at Crosby Gardens, Pat continued her ceramic work teaching and exhibiting early in her career at Wisconsin Designer Craftsmen, Young Americans, Everson Museum of Art, Wisconsin Designer Craftsmen and Area Artists Exhibitions. A career change came eventually when she became a Special Education teacher and Program Manager for Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Her love of traveling and the Rocky Mountains began when she road tripped with two sisters and two aunties from Madison, WI to Boulder, CO and then on to Mexico City in 1950. This love continued to grow when she spent several summers in Boulder and blossomed when her children settled there. Traveling around the country slowed a bit when they purchased a rustic cabin on a small isolated island in MN where summers of solitude were spent, sailing, reading by kerosene lamp, hand pumping water, foraging, birding, fishing and enjoying visits with friends and family. Pat loved the Metro Parks and with Tom volunteered on land management projects, monitored bluebirds, hawks and even frogs. Toledo, a city treasured for its glass history and home of jazz served as inspiration to many including Pat and her family. She treasured her life long friendships, sharing ideas, concerns and laughter...lots of laughter.

Pat is preceded in death by her husband, Tom; daughter, Jennifer; son, Patrick; brother, Donald; and sister, Gail Friedl.

She is survived by son, Christopher; grandchildren, Piper and Nile McGlauchlin and Frances (Shawn) Gracey; great granddaughter, Charlotte; sister, Mary Nielsen; and many dear nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Toledo School for the Arts or the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo.

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