Honoring Patty’s Love for Teaching

Sisters Adrienne (MEd ’70, EDS ’71, EDD ’78) and Patty (BSEd ’72, MEd ’73) Garcia did everything together, including graduate from UF’s College of Education. But in 1976 when both were young professionals, Patty became ill and died suddenly. Although 41 years have passed, Adrienne still gets choked up.

“We both loved going to UF,” she says. “She was smarter and more disciplined. All at once she was sick and gone. She missed that opportunity to have a long career, a family and give back.”

Adrienne says her parents encouraged philanthropy. After Patty died, they supported scholarships in her name. Now, Adrienne has arranged in her will to combine some of her IRA with a piece of real estate to create scholarships at UF for graduate students who plan to teach math, just like Patty did.

“I feel like my sister’s life was too short, but her legacy will continue through the young teachers who benefit from this fund,” Adrienne says.