Patricia Eldridge

Although some may say she doesn’t sound like a New Yorker, Patricia Eldridge was born and raised on Long Island. She completed all of her education in New York State, earning both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from SUNY Albany. Patricia first majored in English and History before pursuing graduate studies in Library and Research Science.

Her career in education led her to a variety of fascinating locations, including Arizona, Curaçao, South America, and Spain. A lifelong lover of swimming, Patricia competed as a young person and later became an A.A.U. swimming official. In 1972, she was invited to officiate at the Northeastern Regional Swimming Event in Lake Placid. Captivated by the area, she and her children relocated there in 1975.

In Lake Placid, Pat worked for United Press International (U.P.I.) and managed the Lake Placid office of the Adirondack Enterprise. She also taught English at Saranac Lake Middle School, where she helped her students launch a school newspaper.

Although she eventually moved away, Patricia and her family have always considered Lake Placid their true home. For the past twenty summers, her children affectionately refer to her seasonal return saying “Mom’s going to her Happy Place.”