Patricia Pitzer Lautmann

1929 - 2025

Devoted Wife and Mother and Lifelong Volunteer, Dies at 95.

Patricia Pitzer Lautmann, whose warmth, curiosity, and zest for life carried her from the citrus groves of Claremont, Calif., to adventures across the American West and beyond, died on October 1, 2025, in Oro Valley, Ariz. She was 95.

Born on November 30, 1929, in Claremont, "Patsy" Pitzer grew up during the Great Depression, traits of thrift and self-reliance shaping a life of resourcefulness and generosity. A tomboy at heart, she spent her youth on horseback and on badminton courts before graduating from Claremont High School. She went on to earn a degree in political science from Pomona College, an early expression of her keen intellect and engagement with the world. Post graduation, she embarked on her first big adventure, leaving small- town Claremont to bike and kayak her way across Europe.

Upon her return, Pat joined the Coro Foundation in San Francisco, where her work in civic affairs suited her outgoing nature. It was there, through a blind date arranged by a friend, that she met Ralph Lautmann, a law student in the Bay Area. After just their second date, they were engaged. Their marriage-an enduring 73-year love story and partnership-began on Army bases in California and Georgia and spanned 12 moves across four states, countless road trips through the West, and later, travels abroad. Together they shared a love of golf, music, family ski trips, the ocean, the desert, summers in Prescott, and simply watching Saturday afternoon sports sipping Ralph's famous Bloody Marys.

Pat's life centered on family. She and Ralph raised four children-Lee, Peter, Susie, and Tony-imbuing them with the same drive and service to others that defined her own character. Despite the demands of motherhood, she devoted hundreds of hours to volunteer work at hospitals and clinics in CA and WI, the Assistance League of Long Beach, the Madison Symphony Orchestra League, and the gardens of Tohono Chul and the Museum of Art in Tucson. While living in Madison, WI, she assisted the pioneering dermatologist Dr. Frederic Mohs in his patented surgical procedure for removing skin cancers-a testament to her skill, steadiness, and compassion.

Some of her fondest memories were based in Alamitos Bay, CA where the family spent twelve years living on the beach and in the water. When a move to Madison called, she took Wisconsin winters in stride, taking up indoor tennis and cross country skiing and enjoying summers on Lake Mendota. With each subsequent move in California and Arizona, she quickly adapted to her new surroundings and made lasting friendships.

Her enthusiasms were many: golf, which she played competitively in her younger years; gardening, in community plots when space was scarce; novels, puzzles of all kinds, from crosswords and jigsaws to Wordle and cryptograms; water aerobics; drawing and painting classes; and University of Arizona basketball, which she followed faithfully. She was also a wonderful cook, known for meals that brought family and friends together, always accompanied by a good Chardonnay.

Pat will be remembered for her warmth, humor, and practical outlook. She was loved deeply and admired by family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Ralph; their four children and spouses; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, with two more expected; and her beloved dog, Georgia.

Her life was a long and joyful adventure, rich with love and laughter, lived fully to the end.

The family extends many thanks to the caring staff at Sonora at Splendido and Bristol Hospice.