Obituary of Patricia C. Sympson

Patricia, a Depression baby, was born on November 29, 1936 to Ann DeMarco Colway and George W. Colway, two upstaters transplanted to the lower east side of Manhattan. After a few years the family moved to Bellerose and then in 1941 to Lynbrook. Their time there was short-lived after her dad enlisted in the army following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Patricia was sent to boarding school "with the nuns" in upstate New York while her mom moved back to Albany to work. Pat hated boarding school, but learned to make the best-ever "hospital style" bed. After the war, the family reunited and moved back to their home in Lynbrook. Patricia attended St. Raymond's Grammar School, St. Agnes High School and Albany State Teacher's College (now known as SUNY Albany). Graduating college in only three years, she realised her lifetime dream of becoming a teacher of English and Social Studies at Island Trees Memorial Junior High School. She became chairperson of the Social Studies Department and then Assistant Principal of the School. She earned her Masters Degree and PHD in political science at St. John's University. During her time as a teacher, Patricia married her beloved husband, Robert and moved to their then little house on Marion St. Shortly after moving in she joyfully welcomed their daughter, Veronica. Upon her retirement, Patricia became active in local government, successfully running for Trustee of the Village of East Rockaway. While her time there was limited, Patricia fought for what she believed to be in the best interests of the Village. Her lasting legacy is the planting of many beautiful rose bushes known as Mr. Lincoln Roses. After leaving office, Patricia, her husband Bob and myriad friends formed the Friends of the East Rockaway Gristmill, which later morphed into the Historical Society of East Rockaway and Lynbrook (HSERL). She was a stalwart worker for HSERL, at the forefront of its annual Retrospective and chair or co-chair of its Annual Tea, and the organisation's immediate past president.. She authored the book East Rockaway, Images of America. In addition to her intellect and her stewardship of causes and people, she will be especially remembered as a kind person, a loving wife and mother, the best ever grandmother and a patient, loving sister. Patricia is survived by her husband, Robert Sympson, her daughter, Veronica Sympson Krendel, her son-in-law Robert Krendel, her granddaughters, Caroline Patricia Krendel and Georgia Rose Krendel, her grandson, John Ronan Krendel, and her sister, Mary Colway (Beck).