FS_030917

frankfortstation.com Life & Arts
the frankfort station | March 9, 2017 | 25
‘Everybody just loved LW special educator
Longtime D843
staffer remembered
for selflessness,
kindness
Jon DePaolis
Freelance Reporter
Terry L. Patton, 67, of
New Lenox, who spent more
than 31 years serving the
special education student
population of New Lenox,
Frankfort, Mokena and more
at Lincoln-Way Special Education
District 843, died Feb.
10, with family at her side.
But perhaps the thing that
Patton will be most remembered
for was the determination
and drive in the face
of adversity that inspired so
many around her.
And, of course, her smile.
According to her husband,
Bill Patton, Terry developed
rheumatoid arthritis when
she about 4 years old, and
she spent a lot of time in hospitals
when she was younger.
Bill said her quiet demeanor
and determination, however,
won the hearts of her doctors,
and instilled in her the
drive necessary to be successful
in life.
“She wanted to be treated
as a normal person,” Bill
said.
Patton met her husband
while attending Illinois State
University. Bill, a sophomore
at the time, noticed
Terry — then a freshman —
in a lecture hall.
“I was painfully shy,” Bill
said. “I kept on going back
to the dorm every night and
telling my friends about this
cute girl. They got tired of
me talking about it, so one
guy found out her name,
called her.”
The friend let Terry know
Bill’s name, and the introduction
was made.
“I felt like I had to go
apologize to her,” Bill said,
laughing. “But from there,
Pictured is (left to right) Bill Patton, Terry Patton and great-granddaughter Olivia during a
vacation in June 2016.
we just clicked. I could tell
she was the nicest person
I had ever met. And I was
right.”
Bill said their family lived
a nice but simple life in New
Lenox, and Terry found a
wonderful career at D843.
“She really loved the
kids,” Bill said.
Patton worked as a teacher’s
aide when she began at
D843. Over the years, she
developed a close bond with
teacher Cindy Van Swol.
“The students were drawn
to her,” Van Swol remembers.
“She stayed at her
desk, but the children were
drawn to work one-on-one
with her. You could see the
students relax. Her calmness
was such a benefit for the
students.
“She never once raised her
voice or criticized. She always
gave students that clear
message that she believed in
them and that they would do
well.”
Van Swol said students
knew Patton had a disability,
so they would intuitively do
things for her like retrieving
her lunch at midday.
“And when she made
a friendship with a child,
it was there forever,” Van
Swol said. “I always knew
that when she took a child to
work with, the student was
getting the very best.”
Van Swol said Patton
never had a bad word to say
about anyone — a trait that
put Van Swol at ease many
times. Patton also never
complained.
“There were cold, winter
days where I knew she could
not be feeling well,” Van
Swol said. “But she would
say, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine.’”
Van Swol said Patton was
“fiercely independent, and
carried her weight in the
classroom.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed
having her as an aide, and I
know I was a better teacher
because of her,” Van Swol
said.
Patton also was a member
of Delta Kappa Gamma, the
International Society of Key
Women Educators.
Later in her career, the
lingering effects of arthritis
— as well as a hip replacement
at age 33 — eventually
forced Patton from the classroom
to the office staff.
“Like everything else,
Terry adapted,” Bill said of
his wife’s switch to secretary.
“And, like everything
else, she did a great job. Everybody
just loved her.
“Her hands were kind of
drawn up into almost a clawlike
position; I really don’t
know how the heck she was
able to hold a pencil or type,
but she did — she found
ways to do everything.”
Patton’s new role had her
working as a secretary for
Robin Latman, who now is
the director of special education
at Flossmoor School
District 161. From the start,
they clicked.
“We became good
friends,” Latman said. “She
took care of me. She always
knew what was coming up
and had a schedule in her
head. She worked harder
than you can imagine. She
was outstanding.”
On a personal level, Lat-
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Contact
Lora Healy
New Lenox resident Terry Patton died Feb. 10. She worked
for more than 31 years in Lincoln-Way Area Special
Education District 843. Photo Submitted
Please see Patton, 32
708.326.9170 ext. 31
l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com