2020/10/obit-photo-Patricia-Richardson-Obituary-238x300.jpgOn the evening of Oct. 20, Patricia Richardson, of Pagosa Springs, Colo., and Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away in Pagosa Springs at the age of 85.
Patricia was born to Donald and Kathleen in Albany, N.Y., met and became engaged to her lifelong husband, Richard Richardson, at Castleton State College in Vermont. She received her bachelor’s degree at Webster College in St. Louis, Mo. She helped her husband serve as founding president of Northampton County College in Bethlehem, Pa. She later received an MBA at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., and went on to have an 18-year career in commercial lending and management with United Bank of Arizona, Southwest Savings and Loan and finally Wells Fargo Bank, where she retired as vice president for commercial lending in the Tempe, Ariz., branch. As a commercial lender, she became the first woman to serve as president of her professional association, Robert Morris Associates of Arizona.
She volunteered in every community where she lived, serving as president of the United Way of Bethlehem, Pa., president of the League of Women Voters of Bethlehem and as a member of the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. In the Phoenix area, she served as president of the United Way of Tempe, Ariz., and as president of Habitat for Humanity of Phoenix. In New York City, she served as member of the Steering Committee of Friends of the New York Philharmonic, and a volunteer for fundraising events and educational presentations for children and adults with the Metropolitan Opera Guild. In this capacity, she was proud to have had the opportunity to accompany both Julie Andrews and Luciano Pavarotti at separate Guild fundraising events.
Her greatest passion and joy were always her immediate and extended family and close friends. Her sister, Pinky, and her brother, Richard, preceded her in death. She is survived by her beloved husband of 65 years, Richard, her three sons (and their spouses), Rick (Mary Kay), Mike (Carol) and Chris (Kitty); eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters and a brother; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
It is impossible to adequately express how much she was loved and will be missed by her family and friends.
A virtual service celebrating her life will be offered through Shepherd of the Hills United Church of Christ in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 21.
