Grant F. Anderson Citation for Meritorious Ministry
2001 Honoree of the Queens Federation of Churches

Mary M. Patterson

 
Mary M. Patterson feels she has had a full life, because she has done so much in the last 70 years — since her graduation from Hunter College in June 1931 (Math Major and Science Minor). The oldest of 9 children, she married James W. Patterson, and they had 3 beautiful daughters who all followed their parents in the profession of teaching. Kathy (who died in 1973) was a Kindergarten Teacher for 5 years. Peggy was an English Literature Teacher in High School and later taught in the University of Inyokern in California for several years. Dorothy worked as an assistant to a Junior High School teacher in Arizona.

Mrs. Patterson took many postgraduate courses in Social Services, methods in teaching, guidance, and Supervision and Administration at St. John's University and at NYU where, in 1967, she received her M.A. in Administration and Supervision of NYC Elementary Schools.

During the Depression it was difficult to get any substitute teaching employment. When her mother applied to the Emergency Home Relief Bureau in 1932, the investigator referred her for a Social Investigator job – but she looked too young and they feared for her safety. She was accepted for a clerical job and did later became an investigator, serving from 1938-1948. She passed the test for Elementary School Teacher and was appointed in September 1950 as a 3rd Grade Teacher. Mrs. Patterson taught from 1950 until her retirement in 1977. She has remained active with the Protestant Teachers Association since becoming a member in 1953 — and continues to serve on the Board.

Mrs. Patterson has also been an active member of many other organizations. She is a charter member of the Senior Citizens Center (1977) and the Wakefield Senior Center (1985). She was treasurer for Grace Fusco Lodge #134A (Order of the Sons of Italy) from 1978-1996. At the United Presbyterian Church of Ozone Park, she served as Deacon (6 years), Elder (10 years), Sunday School Teacher (3 years), and as a choir member since about 1960. She assisted her husband as Financial Secretary from the early 1950s and, when he died in 1971, she took over the responsibility and continued to do the job until 1998! For several years she was on the Board of Directors of the Queens Federation of Churches and continues on the Board of Trustees of Interfaith Council of Southwest Queens.

For many years Mrs. Patterson has been helping senior citizens deal with their many problems regarding food stamps, Social Security, and Medicare. She also tutored many elementary and high school children in math and reading. Parents wanted to pay her but she told them that this was her "seed-faith" contribution to the "Glory of God." She accepted power of attorney for two of her neighbors and took care of their finances and paid their bills from 1990 until their deaths in 1996.

Her faith in God has given her strength, courage and energy to carry on and to use the gifts and talents that he has given her to "His Glory." She counts her blessings every day and thanks God for her good health, her children, her grandchildren, all her relatives, friends and neighbors. She always tries to have a positive attitude toward life and tries to pass it on to everyone she meets. She sincerely hopes that she can continue to make good use of the talents and gifts that God has given her and will always share them to the "Glory of God."
 
Queens Federation of Churches http://www.QueensChurches.org/ Last Updated February 2, 2005