Patricia Barry Thorpe

Patricia Barry Thorpe, an Annapolis area writer and fundraising executive, died of respiratory failure on December 14, 2024, at Ginger Cove Continuing Care Retirement Community in Annapolis, MD. She was 88.

Born in 1936 in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of Thomas F. Barry, an engineer and attorney, and Dolores Schaefer. The oldest of five, she grew up outside of New York City. She graduated from the College of New Rochelle and earned a Master of Modern Studies degree from Loyola University Maryland.

In 1961, she married Dr. Paul A. Kohlhepp. After learning to sail while living in England, the couple returned to the U.S. and settled in the Annapolis area to raise their young family and continue sailing.

Patricia worked as a public relations and development executive for organizations such as Historic Annapolis, Inc., the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and Montgomery College.

She lived on Mill Creek for 50 years and wrote human interest stories, restaurant reviews and various articles for several local publications. She also penned the text for Annapolis: The Spirit of the Chesapeake Bay, a coffee table book with photographs by Kevin Fleming.

In addition to writing, her creative pursuits included cooking, painting, photography, and the dramatic and visual arts. A consummate hostess, she threw memorable parties. She was also a devoted mother, grandmother, sister and friend.

In 1998, Patricia married her second husband, naval architect and marine engineer Richard (Rick) W. Thorpe. They enjoyed sailing, racing and cruising on the Chesapeake Bay and the coast of Maine. Rick passed away in 2020.

Her survivors include her three children, Denise (Mark) Knobloch of Baltimore, Alison Adkins of Washington, D.C., and Paul (Gretchen) Kohlhepp of Charlotte, NC; six grandchildren; two stepchildren; one stepgrandson; and three brothers.

A private celebration of life is being planned. Memorials in Patricia’s honor can be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation or Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.

She lives on in the words of the Irish blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.