Patricia D'Antonio

Patricia E. D’Antonio (neé Lopez) 79 years old, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, passed away on August 31, 2023. She was born to Elizabeth Parker Newell and Raymond Anthony Lopez in Richmond Hills, New York, NY, at a time when Raymond fought in the Pacific war.

Valedictorian of her high school class, Patricia was a lifelong learner. She earned a B.A. in Child Studies and English from St. Joseph’s University and a Master’s of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Stoney Brook University.

A devoted elementary school educator and tutor for over 30 years in Long Island, NY, she had a gift for teaching young people. She learned to scuba and overcame her fears to earn a pilot's license. She could talk to anyone and make them feel at ease, reserving whip smart jokes for those who wanted to banter. She created countless special memories in nature and had an enormously generous spirit.

After retiring to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she expanded her community of friends, becoming a docent and active volunteer of Bonnet House. She created lasting friendships with neighbors at Port Royale and among the women of the “birthday lunch club”. She especially enjoyed the company of her Edward cousins, and her close relatives, especially her sister, Consuelo López, whom she visited annually in Madison, Wisconsin. Patricia loved to travel, and visited South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa alongside family and friends. In her later years, she often traveled by cruise with her dear friend, Sondra St. Martin. She will be very dearly missed.

The family is especially grateful to her friends Sondra St. Martin, William Bills, and Dorothy Rama for their devotion and kindness in watching over Patricia in her last months.

Patricia is survived by her remaining siblings, Consuelo López (Madison, WI), Tom Woods (Princeville, HI), Regina Luna (Patchogue, NY), Christopher Williams (Fuquay-Varina, NC), Marian Lopez, and many treasured nieces and nephews, including Vanessa López Aguilera (Indianapolis, IN), Cristina Springfield (Glendale, CA), and Shawn Bradford (Raleigh, NC), grandnieces, grandnephews, and many cousins. A celebration of life will be held at Bonnet House. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Bonnet House (https://www.bonnethouse.org/).

A Memorial Service will be held for Patricia on October 12th from 4:30-7:00pm at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens located at 900 North Birch Road Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33304.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnnorth.com for the D'Antonio family.