Patricia B. Egolf

Patricia B Egolf, wife of the recently deceased Robert W. Egolf, of Sarasota, FL, passed away Thursday, September 12 in Parker, Colorado, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was 69 years old. Born Patricia Bradley Bird in Philadelphia and raised in Ambler, PA, Trisha, as she was known to family and friends, attended Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. After graduating she worked as a social worker for the City of Philadelphia. In 1966, she married Robert W. Egolf (Bob), also of Ambler, PA. After the birth of her first child, Chris, Trisha devoted all of her time and energies for the next 12 years to her family and raising her children. When Bob was transferred in 1969, the family moved to North Carolina and had two more children, Katie and Suzi. As a young mom she became a devoted member of the local chapters of La Leche League and Nursing Mothers. Long before it was hip, and before such things had names, Trisha was a dedicated practitioner of "attachment parenting" with a heavy dose of "free range parenting" thrown in. She scouted with the kids, gardened with the family, canned beans and tomatoes, sewed clothes and costumes, cooked countless meals and birthday cakes and never complained about anything. After more than a decade in North Carolina, and then a brief 18 month stint in Hudson, Ohio, the family moved to Manatee County, Florida, in 1982. When her youngest was in third grade, Trisha bravely ventured back into the "working" world, eventually getting back to her career in social services. Trisha spent 18 years working for the State of Florida, first as a caseworker for the Department of Health and Human Services and then with the Child Support Enforcement agency in the Department of Revenue. She was a well-loved colleague and friend to those with whom she worked and she enjoyed helping the moms, dads and kids whom she served. As important as her work was to her, however, she was most happy spending time with her family and gardening in her yard. When Bob retired from Eaton Corporation in Sarasota, FL, the couple immersed themselves in the world of Florida native plant gardening. They spent their weekends travelling the state for conferences and field trips with the Florida Native Plant Society. Sadly, declining health in the past decade limited Trisha's mobility and faculties. Nonetheless, she always had a smile for her kids and grandkids, and a laugh for anything funny. Trisha is survived by her son Chris Egolf and daughter-in-law Susie Egolf, of Parker, CO, her daughter Katie Egolf and son-in-law Kevin Rivard of Seattle, WA, her daughter Suzi Egolf and son-in-law Sarat Raman of New Orleans, LA, her brother Richard Bird and sister-in-law Sara Bird of Pittsboro, N.C., and seven grandchildren. A memorial service will be arranged and announced in the coming months in Manatee County, FL. Service Information