Obituary of Patricia Ann Scavo
Patricia Ann McDermott Scavo, ‘PatsyMc’, was born in Lake Village, Arkansas July 22, 1938. She passed in Nokomis, Florida on March 13, 2022. She is survived by her husband of more than 60 years, Philip Scavo, daughter Dishongh Barte (Stafford), and son Michael (Patricia). Preceded in death by parents Loyd McDermott & Verna Dishongh McDermott, and brother Charles ‘Mike’.
A high school honors graduate of McGehee High School in McGehee, Arkansas she went on to earn her undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM). At UAM she was captain of the cheerleaders, President of Phi Sigma Chi sorority and founded the Phi Sigma Chi Memorial Award. Completing her college requirements in two and half years she took her first teaching job in Kissimmee, Florida teaching at Osceola High School when she only 19. She met her future husband, Philip Scavo, who was reporting for Boston Red Sox spring training in Kissimmee. Married in 1961 they moved to Phil’s hometown of Melrose Park, Illinois. The family moved to Nokomis, Florida in 1969. Pat earned her master’s in education in 1980, the same year her daughter graduated high school. In 1990 Pat & Phil moved to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. In 2020 Pat and Phil moved back to Nokomis to officially retire and enjoy once again, the beach life she loved so much.
Over the long life of Patricia, she held many titles, many more than once, in Illinois, Florida, and Arkansas. Educator, Instructor, Career Education Specialist, Coordinator/Supervisor, Owner/Partner, Program Director, Developer, Founder, Entrepreneur, Advisor, Chairwomen. Over the decades her focus covered early, special needs, alternative, and adult education.
The family takes great pride in her fundamental involvement in programs that aided children and parents in south county Sarasota. In Venice she worked with & for: Sarasota Public Schools, South County Child Development Center, Loveland Center, New Directions Alternative High School, Program Director of the Venice YMCA, day care owner, and piloted the first public after school program for latch-key kids in south county, co-founder of the Venice-Nokomis Methodist Church preschool program, founder of the South County Screening Program testing for learning disabilities and developmental needs.
Patricia was recognized many times for her time & contributions in every community she called home. March of Dimes Volunteer Award, Kiwanis Achievement Award, Sunshine Press Citizen of the Year & first recipient of the Community Service Cup, American Association of University Women’s named gift recipient, YMCA Youth Worker of the Year, to name a few.
Her 30 years in Hot Springs National Park was spent devoting herself to the arts. She was head of the family run and award-winning Blue Moon Fine Art Gallery for 17 years. Pat was an integral part of the arts community. She was involved with the Arts Cooperative Team, Hot Springs Music Festival, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, countless special events with the Hot Springs Convention Center, and of course the monthly Gallery Walk.
Fast paced & driven, she loved sharing information and encouraging others to be involved and care about the community where they lived. She always had a story to tell and an opinion to share. She was forever a cheerleader and her support and encouragement to others was boundless. With PastyMc on your team you couldn’t loose. Her favorite things were being with family & friends, talking, cooking, and being barefoot.
A sunset toast to Celebrate the Life of Patricia will be held on Saturday, April 9th at the North Jetty in Nokomis, Florida. A Celebration of Life Service for Patricia will be held in
Hot Springs, Arkansas on May 15, 2022 and information will be coming soon to Celebrate her life in
Oahu, Hawaii (TBA Summer of 2022).
Please donate your time or money to your local CASA chapter (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children) https://nationalcasagal.org/
Advocate, activist
creator, innovator
organizer, coordinator
visionary, futurist
with a sense of direction
a sense of purpose
that blossomed – that bore
fruits and seeds
from the energies
of our remarkable
Pat Scavo!
Wherever, whenever
the need surfaced
she came forth
with a program
with a plan for
the very young
the at-risk – the handicapped
the teenagers – the adults
the singles – the “seniors”
the widowed – the women
all who are a part of
our South County!
She saw the needs and
she rallied us all
to join her
in her mission
to alert, to study
to assess, to develop
the services that would
open doors – bring hope
support and encourage
the chances
to over come and to grow!
She raised our consciousness
she inspired us all
she helped us believe
that each of us could
make a difference
if only we would
join together
to bring about change
to improve
the quality of life
here in South County!
Pat Scavo – dear Pat
we salute you
we are grateful to YOU…
your faith, your enthusiasm
leaves an indelible impact
on us all
your grass roots commitments
and achievements will be
your legacy to us
that will continue to
strengthen and inspire
all of us forever!
With deep admiration,
love and best wishes
Shirley Herman-Berman 6/9/1990
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