Sister Mary Patricia Plumb

Sister Mary Patricia Plumb, 83, passed away Friday, January 8 at Adventist Hospital Tampa. A native of Florida, she graduated from the Academy of the Holy Names, Tampa, Barry University and earned a master’s degree from the University of South Florida.

She entered the Sisters of the Holy Names in 1955 and served at schools in Liverpool and Albany, New York. She was principal of St Cecilia School in Clearwater. She recently retired from the Academy of the Holy Names where she served as a teacher, vice-principal and, most recently, as campus minister. For many years, she was the coach of the Academy speech and debate team. In 2006, she was inducted into the National Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame.

Born in Clearwater, she was a great-granddaughter of Jennie Reynolds Plumb, the first public school teacher in Pinellas County. She was also the niece of Kathleen Plumb, a longtime teacher and administrator in Pinellas County schools. Plumb Elementary School in Clearwater is named for them.

She also was a descendant of Alexis Coquillard, founder of South Bend, Indiana, who was instrumental in the founding of the University of Notre Dame. She inherited her well-known love of the Fighting Irish from her mother.

Known as Patsy to her family and friends, she was the daughter of the late Milton Plumb and Anne Miller Plumb, R.N. She was preceded in death by her brother Michael and is survived by her brother Terry Plumb (Betty) of Rock Hill, S.C. and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

Burial will be private. A public memorial service will be held after pandemic restrictions are lifted.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sister Mary Patricia Plumb Endowed Scholarship Fund (Academy of the Holy Names, 3319 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33629).