Patricia Richardson, 85, passed away on October 20, 2020. She received her bachelor’s degree at Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri. She later received an MBA at ASU 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, AZ branch. As a commercial lender, she became the first woman to serve as president of her professional association, Robert Morris Associates of AZ.



Patricia helped her husband, Richard, serve as founding president of Northampton County College in Bethlehem, PA. Richard retired from ASU in 1999 as Professor Emeritus of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. He is a member of ASURA and of the Emeritus College.



Patricia volunteered in every community where she lived. She served 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 PA. In the Phoenix area she served as President of the United Way of Tempe and as President of Habitat for Humanity of Phoenix. In New York City, she served as a 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 had the opportunity to accompany both Julie Andrews and Luciano Pavarotti at separate Guild fundraising events.



Patricia is survived by her husband, Richard, three sons, eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren, two sisters, a brother, and many nieces and nephews. A virtual service celebrating her life will be offered through Shepherd of the Hills United Church of Christ in Phoenix on November 21, 2020.