Obituary: Patricia (Pat) Edith Levy Freedman

Patricia Edith Levy Freedman (Pat), 96, died Oct. 19, 2020. She was born May 12, 1924 in Atlanta to loving parents and pillars of the Atlanta Jewish community Annie and Sam Levy. For many years there was a placard in her kitchen that read, “She who rests, rusts.” In a few brief words, that brilliantly summarizes the long, indefatigable life of Pat Freeman.

Pat was a devoted and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, and volunteer. She was one of the early female Georgia Tech students, and the second generation of what was eventually to be four generations of Levy and Freedman family Tech alumni.

She married Irwin “Buck” Freedman, whom she met at a Georgia Tech function, and they raised four boys in a boisterous, loving household in Great Neck, N.Y.

Get The AJT Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

She was a PTA president and worked for the school district. A passionate supporter of social justice issues, she was active in many Jewish organizations and celebrated her bat mitzvah at age 50.

Later, when she and Buck relocated to Los Angeles, she was actively involved with The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and eventually recognized as a Volunteer of the Year. She was a docent at Frank Lloyd Wright designed Hollyhock House in Los Angeles and read to the blind.

Pat loved theater and garage sales. Most of all, she loved family meals, making sure to gather friends and sojourners for holidays when they were unable to be with their own families. To her sons, Mom was always there when needed. She was a loving and devoted trooper for her family who traveled the country regularly to visit her children and grandchildren. She was a steady and steadfast force in the lives of all whom she loved and who loved her.

Predeceased by her parents, her brother Bernard Lee, and her husband Buck, Pat is survived by her sister Nathalie Levy Goodrich; sons and daughters-in-law Chuck (Kim), Stan (Sarah), D.Jay (Sarah Pscheidt) and Bruce (Lori Goldstrom); grandchildren Daniel (Amy), Seth (Jamie), Lindsey, Caroline and Isaiah Freedman, Chris (Brittanie), and Michael Tappan, and Alex (Emily) Egeler; 10 great-grandchildren; six nieces and nephews; cousin David Friedman, and many other family and friends, including Miyah Wilson, LaToya Lewis and other caregivers at Belmont Village Assisted Living. The family also wishes to thank Dr. Lee Padove, Pat’s nephew-in-law, for his continuous, immediately responsive and loving medical care during the last several years of her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Pat may be made to The Jewish Federation, PO Box 54269, Los Angeles, Calif. 90054-0269, www.jewishla.org/tribute.