Patricia Ann Koblenz

04/16/1965 - 04/11/2024

Pat (Patricia) Koblenz died peacefully at home on April 11, 2024 with her husband and sister at her side. From her bed, she had a view of the hills, houses, trees, and birds of San Francisco, the city that she loved and called home for all her 59 years.

Pat was born in SF on April 16, 1965, the third child of immigrants Hermann and Elisabeth Koblenz. She joined the household in the Midtown Terrace neighborhood and was the darling little sister of siblings Anthony and Lillian. From the start, she was an adorable child who had a gift for making and maintaining friendships. She attended St. Brendan Parish School, Lowell High School, UC Berkeley, and SF State University, where she earned her teaching credentials. She later received a master’s degree in ESL from SF State.

Pat was a devoted, creative, and lifelong teacher Fluent in Spanish, she was committed to bilingual education. She loved the natural world and incorporated plants, animals, and the environment in all aspects of her teaching. She was an advocate for excellence in public education. Her career included multiple types of teaching in a variety of settings: elementary school teacher in Redwood City and SF; museum education director at Coyote Point; ESL educator at SF State; and reading intervention specialist in SF. Throughout her teaching career, she cultivated many deep and lasting friendships.

Pat met the love of her life Kevin Jones via email on Yahoo Personals on July 15, 2001. Pat was curious about this man who enjoyed running marathons in the rain. They had their first formal date at a Thai restaurant where Kevin suffered through dinner wearing new shoes that were too tight. Pat gave him a ride home. Dancing all night and a first kiss soon followed. They married in 2005 at Golden Gate National Recreation Area on a windy but beautiful day, surrounded by family and friends. Their life together was enhanced by their intense love and respect for each other, by all the things that they loved to do together, and by their understanding of their differences and individual interests.

They lived in the Sunnyside neighborhood of SF where their home is filled with Kevin’s photography and Pat’s quilts, as well as so many plants and books! In 2016, they adopted their beloved dog, Lucas; he may be little, but he is the boss of Joost Avenue and the keeper of their hearts! Pat was a master at creating community, and she developed friendships with neighbors up and down the hills of Sunnyside.

Pat had many interests, hobbies, and talents throughout her life—but especially in retirement. She was a traveler, walker, swimmer, pickleball player, photographer, quilter, naturalist, gardener, birdwatcher, language learner, and excellent chef. She continued her passion for teaching as a docent at the SF botanical garden and a volunteer naturalist at Point Reyes National Seashore. Other volunteer activities that she loved included helping at the San Francisco/ Marin foodbank, ushering at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and engaging in all manner of political activism.

Pat had close relationships with her nieces, nephews, great nieces, and cousins in Europe and in the US. She was interested in her family history and collected genealogical information.

In her final days, Pat received visits, letters, phone calls, emails, texts, food, and so many flowers from her huge community of friends, family, and neighbors. She was surrounded by love, and though she may be gone in body, her lovely spirit remains in all who loved her.

A celebration of Pat’s life is being planned for June 2024. Please send donations in her name to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, Point Reyes National Seashore, or the nature charity of your choice.