Patricia Anne Ruzakowski Athey's Obituary
Patricia Anne Ruzakowski Athey, age 68, passed away on March 1, 2026, at the Skilled Nursing Health Pavilion of Oak Hammock in Gainesville FL. Pat was born on November 29, 1957, in Baltimore, MD, to the parents of the late Henry C. and Patricia Guilhen Ruzakowski.
She is survived by her husband of 35 years: Donald J. Athey, sons Mitchell Athey and Iain (Marianna) MacLean, granddaughter Lilian MacLean, sisters, Joan Metz and Diane Russell, brothers, Edmund (Anne) Ruzakowski and Wayne Ruzakowski, son’s mother-in-law, Mary McLean, and sister-in-law, Michele Brignac.
She will be missed by her nieces, nephew, her father and mother-in-law, William and DiAnn Athey, as well as her dear cousins, aunts, and uncles.
She was preceded in death by her brother: Henry Ruzakowski Jr, and sister-in-law: Laura L. Athey.
After graduating high school in the Miami area in 1975, Pat went to the University of Florida, where she received her BS in Math, MS in Biomedical Engineering, and PhD in Material Science and Engineering.
Pat was employed for 35 years at PPG/Vitro Architectural Glass, in Pittsburgh, PA. She was also employed at the Max Planck Institute, Stuttgart Germany and at the University of Houston, where she met her future husband.
Pat had a profound love for travel, for both work and vacation, having visited 25 countries. She was fluent in Spanish, and proficient in German and French. As a high school graduation gift, she went on a ‘round the world’ trip, with memorable visits to Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, and a bazaar in Tehran, just before the regime change.
Like her father, Pat loved to sail, owning a small sailboat during her college days, and racing with it whenever possible.
Pat loved to sew and quilt. She made many different kinds and sizes of quilts, which are sure to become family heirlooms.
But it was during her travels, that Pat made a different kind of ‘quilt’. Whether it was from new found friends, relatives, or long time acquaintances, Pat was always combining and stitching together these loved ones, into the ‘quilt’ of her life.
Pat was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Glenshaw PA.
Family will receive friends Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Downtown, 404 North Main Street, Gainesville, FL
Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 2510 Middle Road, Glenshaw, PA. Interment will follow in Assumption Cemetery of Saint Mary (Glenshaw). Link to online stream of Mass: https://youtube.com/@ourladyofperpetualhelp5272
Contributions in Pat’s memory can be made to the American Brain Tumor Association. https://www.abta.org/?campaign=773918
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