Tom Patrick
Tom Patrick, age 74, passed away Thursday, Aug. 22 at the Naviscent Medical Center in Macon.
Mr. Patrick was born in Geneva, N.Y. and grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York. He graduated from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University, and completed ROTC training. He served two years as an Army Captain in Alaska with a medical support unit. He then returned to New York and earned a Master of Science in Botany from Cornell University.
He moved to Tennessee and earned a Specialist in Education degree from the Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University, then at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville continued to study botany and participate in many botanical projects. He became a charter member of the Tennessee Native Plant Society. He worked at TVA before moving to Georgia in 1986 to work for the Wildlife Resources Division of the Ga. Department of Natural Resources as a Wildlife Biologist specializing in Botany and Plant Conservation.
He married and moved to Monticello. He published numerous papers on trilliums, a type of three petalled lily, and authored studies of many other rare and endangered plant and animal habitats. He worked with DNR staff as well as volunteers in plant rescues and plant protection.
He worked extensively with volunteers in the Georgia Native Plant Society, Georgia Botanical Society, Great Smoky Mountain Wildflower Pilgrimage, Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, Association of Southeast Biologists, the Nature Conservancy, Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, and others.
In Monticello he was a Boy Scout leader, Band Booster and active in his church. Recently Tom was awarded a medal from the Ga. Plant Conservation Alliance honoring a life time of plant conservation work.
Tom is survived by his wife, Bretta Elaine Perkins; sons, Andrew Perkins Patrick and Benjamin Thomas Patrick, and grandchildren Evan Alexander Patrick, Madison Grace Patrick, Daniel Carson Patrick, Everett Patrick, and their mother, Holly Ellington Patrick, as well as his sister, Sandra Kay Patrick Romesburg, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Nature Conservancy or nature protection organization of your choice.
A memorial service is scheduled at High Street Unitarian Universalist Church, Macon, Ga. at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 with reception to follow.
Please sign the online registry at jordanfh@bellsouth.net, www.jordanfuneralhomemonticello.com.