Patricia Nichols - Forever The Care Giver
June 1, 2021
Patricia Anne Pelton was born in Henderson on November 25th, 1935 and grew up on a farm in Belleville, New York. As the eldest daughter of Eunice and George Pelton, Pat was a high achiever from an early age. Her sister Polly shared early memories that "Pat, being the first born "Pelton Sweet P" was very intelligent, studious and popular. Of course being younger, Penny and I thought she was the favorite daughter...hence her nickname "Queenie". She always had a partially read book in her possession and and keen sense of humor". At a very early age Pat perfected "the look" that became one of her signature expressions that let you know she was way ahead of you.
She graduated high school from Union Academy in 1953 as the class Valedictorian and editor of the Tower. In 1958 she completed her undergraduate degree in Nursing from Syracuse University. That same year she married James Lynch of Ovid New York and gave birth to her first child, Michael David Lynch. In 1960, Jeffrey Thomas Lynch was born and in 1962 Laurel Elizabeth Lynch joined the family.
In her early career within the Syracuse and Albany area, Pat held various positions as a psychiatric nurse, a school nurse and also began her career in health education. In 1972 Pat and her family moved to Troy Michigan where she expanded her career within the Troy & Birmingham school districts. She completed her Masters in health education while co-parenting 3 teenagers... thus she was her own success story for work-life balance. Pat was passionate about raising her children to be resourceful and independent, much like herself. In looking back, she had the "parental patience and insight" to allow her kids and those she worked with to learn by their own mistakes. She was always there to provide family and friends with her guidance, love and support.
She and Jim divorced in 1972 and stayed friends for the rest of their lives. She remarried Tom Nichols in 1977 and continued to invest her talents and ambitions to ensure that the "next generation of young adults" have every opportunity to learn about health and well-being. As shared by her long-time friend and colleague Mary Ann George (Doty), "She was a champion for children's health and an advocate for youth throughout her professional career. In the late 1980s, her leadership and vision led to her role with the Michigan Department of Education. She developed model policy and curricula for HIV prevention in concert with the CDC. In the early 1990s, Pat became the Supervisor for Comprehensive Programs in Health and Early Childhood for Michigan. Pat also worked on the Michigan Model and lead the development of the Michigan Governor's Reading Plan. Pat left her mark nationally by encouraging other states to learn from Michigan's experiences". She retired in 2000 as the Deputy Director of the Office of School Excellence at the Michigan Department of Education. During her retirement celebration, several team mates shared their stories about Pat's legacy and her approach to life. A few heart-felt quotes from Laurie Bechhofer demonstrated everyone's appreciation for Pat's style and passion:
The opportunity for year-round golf, sunshine and proximity to family brought her to Leesburg Florida and to the Pennbrooke Fairways golf community. She was an active member of the community board and enjoyed her expanded circle of friends and generous neighbors. While in Leesburg she also became engaged with the local poodle rescue program and fostered several aging dogs back to health. (She found yet another way to apply her nursing background and nurturing nature)!
In August 2021, in the middle of a global pandemic, Pat single-handedly sold her house, packed up and moved to Bradenton Florida to be closer to the beach, to be near her good friends and to simplify her life. She was remarkably resourceful (along with very stubborn) and quickly learned that everything anyone might need to buy is available via the internet. (We're convinced that she was on a first name basis with the Amazon and J. Jill delivery guys). She was so proud of her family and humbly watched from afar as her legacy lives on through the next generation. Even into her final days, she enjoyed keeping in touch with her grandchildren, friends and family via her iPhone, Facebook posts, cards and letters. You always knew what was on her mind, what she believed in and what she valued based on her posted ideas and political satire. She was a rare person who unselfishly shared her wisdom and truth with a quiet voice of reason. She lived a big life for such a little lady and truly "paid it forward" to all who knew her as a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, golf buddy, professional counterpart or life long friend.
Please take a few minutes to share your stories and memories. Remember her as she would want you to envision her... sitting on her patio, quietly smiling, listening to her favorite piano serenade (Claire De Lune), a glass of pinot noir in hand, while watching a Blue Heron's silent meandering along the water's edge before it takes flight into the evening sky.
She graduated high school from Union Academy in 1953 as the class Valedictorian and editor of the Tower. In 1958 she completed her undergraduate degree in Nursing from Syracuse University. That same year she married James Lynch of Ovid New York and gave birth to her first child, Michael David Lynch. In 1960, Jeffrey Thomas Lynch was born and in 1962 Laurel Elizabeth Lynch joined the family.
In her early career within the Syracuse and Albany area, Pat held various positions as a psychiatric nurse, a school nurse and also began her career in health education. In 1972 Pat and her family moved to Troy Michigan where she expanded her career within the Troy & Birmingham school districts. She completed her Masters in health education while co-parenting 3 teenagers... thus she was her own success story for work-life balance. Pat was passionate about raising her children to be resourceful and independent, much like herself. In looking back, she had the "parental patience and insight" to allow her kids and those she worked with to learn by their own mistakes. She was always there to provide family and friends with her guidance, love and support.
She and Jim divorced in 1972 and stayed friends for the rest of their lives. She remarried Tom Nichols in 1977 and continued to invest her talents and ambitions to ensure that the "next generation of young adults" have every opportunity to learn about health and well-being. As shared by her long-time friend and colleague Mary Ann George (Doty), "She was a champion for children's health and an advocate for youth throughout her professional career. In the late 1980s, her leadership and vision led to her role with the Michigan Department of Education. She developed model policy and curricula for HIV prevention in concert with the CDC. In the early 1990s, Pat became the Supervisor for Comprehensive Programs in Health and Early Childhood for Michigan. Pat also worked on the Michigan Model and lead the development of the Michigan Governor's Reading Plan. Pat left her mark nationally by encouraging other states to learn from Michigan's experiences". She retired in 2000 as the Deputy Director of the Office of School Excellence at the Michigan Department of Education. During her retirement celebration, several team mates shared their stories about Pat's legacy and her approach to life. A few heart-felt quotes from Laurie Bechhofer demonstrated everyone's appreciation for Pat's style and passion:
- "your belief in the knowledge and power of young people"
- "your belief in eliminating the 'isms' and prejudices that get in the way of us reaching those in greatest need"
- "your belief in teaching people to fish rather than giving them the fish"
- "your belief in doing the right thing and doing it quietly"
- "your pragmatic "get it done" approach"
- "your depth and compassion as a human being, mother, grandmother as well as a professional".
- "Pat must have been the most "hip" mom in the world, telling her children all of the facts of life by the time they reached the ripe old age of 2".
The opportunity for year-round golf, sunshine and proximity to family brought her to Leesburg Florida and to the Pennbrooke Fairways golf community. She was an active member of the community board and enjoyed her expanded circle of friends and generous neighbors. While in Leesburg she also became engaged with the local poodle rescue program and fostered several aging dogs back to health. (She found yet another way to apply her nursing background and nurturing nature)!
In August 2021, in the middle of a global pandemic, Pat single-handedly sold her house, packed up and moved to Bradenton Florida to be closer to the beach, to be near her good friends and to simplify her life. She was remarkably resourceful (along with very stubborn) and quickly learned that everything anyone might need to buy is available via the internet. (We're convinced that she was on a first name basis with the Amazon and J. Jill delivery guys). She was so proud of her family and humbly watched from afar as her legacy lives on through the next generation. Even into her final days, she enjoyed keeping in touch with her grandchildren, friends and family via her iPhone, Facebook posts, cards and letters. You always knew what was on her mind, what she believed in and what she valued based on her posted ideas and political satire. She was a rare person who unselfishly shared her wisdom and truth with a quiet voice of reason. She lived a big life for such a little lady and truly "paid it forward" to all who knew her as a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, golf buddy, professional counterpart or life long friend.
Please take a few minutes to share your stories and memories. Remember her as she would want you to envision her... sitting on her patio, quietly smiling, listening to her favorite piano serenade (Claire De Lune), a glass of pinot noir in hand, while watching a Blue Heron's silent meandering along the water's edge before it takes flight into the evening sky.