Patricia Margaret Todd

TODD, Patricia Margaret, 70, passed away unexpectedly on May 9, 2020, in Tampa, Florida, surrounded by her loved ones. Patricia is survived by her spouse, John G. Elsner, III; children, Christopher Clyde Todd (Tonya) of California, Jaclyn Todd Hargreaves (Tyler), Gregory Garrett Todd (Lisa) of Colorado; grandchildren, Jackson and Beckley Todd, Paige Hargreaves, Julia and Colin Todd; brother, Jerry D. Carroll (Mary); niece Teresa Bashaw (Chris); great-nephew Hunter and great-niece Alexandria; step-sons Jonathan Elsner (Meagan) and Brian Elsner; step-grandchildren Ava Grace, Audrey, and Addison; and many nieces, nephews, and other loved ones. She is preceded in death by her parents, Margaret M. Carroll and Gerard M. Carroll; and her first husband, Terry Lee Todd.

Patricia was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1949 and her family moved to South Tampa in 1952. Patricia attended Christ the King Catholic School and Tampa Catholic High School, where she served as senior class president, graduating in 1967. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics Education from the University of South Florida where she graduated a year early in 1970.

She and Terry dated in high school and college and married in 1969. As a newly married couple, they got their first dog, a toy poodle, which ended up being the first of 6 toy poodles for Patricia. They then started a family with the births of Christopher, Jaclyn, and Gregory, each 2 years apart, and built a house in Carrollwood to settle down.

Not many people have the opportunity to do what they love for a living but Patricia did just that. Inspired by one of her own teachers, she dreamed of being a high school math teacher since she was in high school. Patricia started her teaching career at a Jacksonville high school, then Brandon High School and then her alma mater, Tampa Catholic. She had a love for numbers and math. While raising a family, she went back to USF where she obtained an MBA in 1985. She spent most of her career teaching various math courses at Gaither High School (1986 - 2002) where she was beloved by many students and faculty. Patricia coached Mu Alpha Theta teams at Gaither as well. She had a goal of helping students through the tough years of high school and was an inspiration to many. Patricia also helped her first husband, Terry, start an insurance business and assisted in running the business when he fell ill.

Patricia was a very strong woman, and with the help of her mother, Margaret, she raised three children after Terry passed away in 1989. She had an adventurous spirit. When her children were young, she would take them sailing on the bay in her catamaran. In her forties, Patricia completed a week-long bicycle ride event across the state of Iowa. She also tried skiing for the first time, falling in love with the activity, and started an annual family snow ski trip tradition during the winter school breaks. Many fond memories were formed on those trips and her children’s love of skiing lives on. She also loved to travel and explore nature having a particular fondness for California, North Carolina, National Parks and Europe. Having summers off as a teacher, she often traveled with her mother and children, visiting different regions of the country.

Once her children went on to college, she finally found the time to focus on herself. She reconnected with a high school friend, Jack Elsner, at her daughter’s wedding in 2000. Patricia and Jack married in 2002 and moved to Franklin, North Carolina in 2006 to live in a house they built in the mountains. Spending most of her life in the Florida heat, she really enjoyed living in North Carolina, especially seeing the snow in the winter. She taught for a few more years at a high school in northern Georgia before retiring. Once retired, she and Jack bought an RV and went on many trips across the country visiting friends and family and taking in the scenic beauty of the American countryside. Patricia and Jack moved back to the Tampa area in 2016 to be closer to family.

Patricia loved spending time with her children and grandchildren and considered them to be her greatest success.

She loved to read and enjoyed completing Sudoku puzzles. Patricia was content with a full cup of coffee on her back patio (always an outdoor oasis in each of her homes). She loved all different kinds of music although nothing compared to the Beatles. Her favorite movie was Camelot starring Richard Harris. She also loved to laugh and preferred to listen to stand-up comedy while driving around town. Patricia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Should friends and family desire, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Tampa Catholic in memory of Patricia Todd.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date as circumstances permit.