Let's write about a remarkable physician
Dr. Theodore C. Patterson, a Dundalk Maryland, family physician who was my late mother’s doctor.
He died at 86 years old in Maryland. He grew up in the neighborhood where Henrietta Lacks lived.
By JACQUES KELLY in the Baltimore Sun
JUL 12, 2019 AT 12:50 PM
Reporter Jacques Kelly came to the Evening Sun as a summer intern in 1969 and later joined The News American. He’s been with The Baltimore Sun since 1986. As a local columnist and reporter, Jacques writes about neighborhoods for readers who like learning more about their city. He also writes local obituaries.
Obituary- Dr. Theodore C. Patterson, a retired physician who practiced in Dundalk and was called as a beloved community figure, died of Parkinson’s disease complications on July 9, 2019, at his Annapolis home. He was 86 years old.
“Dr. Patterson represented the epitome of good hard work and academic success,” said former U.S. Presentative Kweisi Mfume. “As a young person, in my formative yeaers, I sat in awe of him. He went on to become a friend and mentor. As a physician, he was a counselor to the many families he treated. He had a comforting spirit about him,”
Born in Sparrows Point, he was the son of Doward B. Patterson, Sr., a Bethlehem Steel Corporation foreman and his wife Louie Marshall, a homemaker. According to a biography prepared by his family, Dr. Patterson spent his youth in a house on J Street, one of the first at Turner Station to have indoor plumbing.
Dr. Patterson graduated from Sollers Point High School, in 1949, which ws then a segregated black institution. “But, the Class of 1949, accustomed to race-based barriers, didn’t give segregation mush thought,” said a 1999, Baltimore Sun article about a reunion. “You persevered,” said Dr. Patterson, recalling his high school years. He said that his classmates went on to careers in medicine, teaching, architecture, manufacturing and government.
“We’ve never really had a reunion. This is more of an anniversary,” said Patterson who co-organized that reunion.
He earned a pre-med degree at Morgan State University, and as an ROTC second lieutenant, he served as a training officer at Fort Dix, New Jersey for two years.
His family biography said that on a visit to New Orleans with a friend, the late Joe Thomas, Dr. Patterson me Sylvia Tureaud*, his future wife. They married on July 14, 1956.
He and his wife settled in Dundalk and raised their children. Dr. Patterson commuted by train daily to graduate school at Howard University in Washington, DC.. In 1958, he was accepted to the University of Maryland Medical School. Upon graduation he interned at Sinai Hospital. In 1965, he started his family practice in Turner Station. He later practiced in an office in the Logan Village Shopping Center.
“He was very friendly and jovial, and everyone loved Dr. Patterson,” said Dr. Willarda V. Edwards, with whom he practiced until his retirement in 1993. “He really was a true family physician. People brought all their relatives to him and they in turn told others about him. At Christmas, his office would be filled with the cakes and candies people brought him.”
His family said he made house calls evenings and weekends. He also called on patients when they were hospitalized and stopped in their rooms to say hello and offer support.
Dr. Patterson remained active in Dundalk and Sparrows Point community affairs and participated in events that promoted local history.
“It has been a close-knit community,” said in a 1973 Evening Sun article. “You rarely locked your doors and always went to your neighbors’ houses uninvited.” He said that he grew up not going into Baltimore City much, maybe two or three trips a year.
Dr. Patterson went on to be the first African American president of the Gilman School Parents’ Association during 1978-1979. He was a member of the Board of the Patapsco Federal Savings and Loan Association, the County Planning Board, a member of the Dundalk Community College Advisory Board, the Dundalk Jaycees and was a past president of the Dundalk Optimist Club.
From 1969 to 1970, he served as president of the American Medical Association, Baltimore County Chapter. He was also first African American to hold the post. He group awarded him its Physicians’ Community Service Award in 1993.
Entry in Dr. Patterson’s obituary guestbook (below) describes the way I remember how others in the community would remember him:
“Mr. Alvin and Diane Lewis and family from 5471 Moores Run Drive, wrote on Jul. 13, 2019: On behalf of Christ The King Church of Turner Station: I had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Theodore Patterson and his family attending church there for many years as a little girl. My grandfather and grandmother The late Sidney and Maggie Small, Mr. and Mrs. Mary Branch, The Howard family and Mrs. Good and Mrs. Moore attended the same church. Dr. Theodore Patterson left a Legacy for his family, his community and friends serving us all. We had a saying during church service "Peace be with you" telling one another. Dr. Theodore Patterson aka (cousin Teddy) in my words will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Earth has lost a great and good man but Heaven has gained a true and faithful Angel. We are keeping his dear wife and family in our prayers for days to come. Love Always Mrs. Diane Moss-Lewis and family
By JACQUES KELLY in the Baltimore Sun
JUL 12, 2019 AT 12:50 PM
Reporter Jacques Kelly came to the Evening Sun as a summer intern in 1969 and later joined The News American. He’s been with The Baltimore Sun since 1986. As a local columnist and reporter, Jacques writes about neighborhoods for readers who like learning more about their city. He also writes local obituaries.
Obituary- Dr. Theodore C. Patterson, a retired physician who practiced in Dundalk and was called as a beloved community figure, died of Parkinson’s disease complications on July 9, 2019, at his Annapolis home. He was 86 years old.
“Dr. Patterson represented the epitome of good hard work and academic success,” said former U.S. Presentative Kweisi Mfume. “As a young person, in my formative yeaers, I sat in awe of him. He went on to become a friend and mentor. As a physician, he was a counselor to the many families he treated. He had a comforting spirit about him,”
Born in Sparrows Point, he was the son of Doward B. Patterson, Sr., a Bethlehem Steel Corporation foreman and his wife Louie Marshall, a homemaker. According to a biography prepared by his family, Dr. Patterson spent his youth in a house on J Street, one of the first at Turner Station to have indoor plumbing.
Dr. Patterson graduated from Sollers Point High School, in 1949, which ws then a segregated black institution. “But, the Class of 1949, accustomed to race-based barriers, didn’t give segregation mush thought,” said a 1999, Baltimore Sun article about a reunion. “You persevered,” said Dr. Patterson, recalling his high school years. He said that his classmates went on to careers in medicine, teaching, architecture, manufacturing and government.
“We’ve never really had a reunion. This is more of an anniversary,” said Patterson who co-organized that reunion.
He earned a pre-med degree at Morgan State University, and as an ROTC second lieutenant, he served as a training officer at Fort Dix, New Jersey for two years.
He and his wife settled in Dundalk and raised their children. Dr. Patterson commuted by train daily to graduate school at Howard University in Washington, DC.. In 1958, he was accepted to the University of Maryland Medical School. Upon graduation he interned at Sinai Hospital. In 1965, he started his family practice in Turner Station. He later practiced in an office in the Logan Village Shopping Center.
“He was very friendly and jovial, and everyone loved Dr. Patterson,” said Dr. Willarda V. Edwards, with whom he practiced until his retirement in 1993. “He really was a true family physician. People brought all their relatives to him and they in turn told others about him. At Christmas, his office would be filled with the cakes and candies people brought him.”
His family said he made house calls evenings and weekends. He also called on patients when they were hospitalized and stopped in their rooms to say hello and offer support.
Dr. Patterson remained active in Dundalk and Sparrows Point community affairs and participated in events that promoted local history.
“It has been a close-knit community,” said in a 1973 Evening Sun article. “You rarely locked your doors and always went to your neighbors’ houses uninvited.” He said that he grew up not going into Baltimore City much, maybe two or three trips a year.
Dr. Patterson went on to be the first African American president of the Gilman School Parents’ Association during 1978-1979. He was a member of the Board of the Patapsco Federal Savings and Loan Association, the County Planning Board, a member of the Dundalk Community College Advisory Board, the Dundalk Jaycees and was a past president of the Dundalk Optimist Club.
From 1969 to 1970, he served as president of the American Medical Association, Baltimore County Chapter. He was also first African American to hold the post. He group awarded him its Physicians’ Community Service Award in 1993.
Entry in Dr. Patterson’s obituary guestbook (below) describes the way I remember how others in the community would remember him:
“Mr. Alvin and Diane Lewis and family from 5471 Moores Run Drive, wrote on Jul. 13, 2019: On behalf of Christ The King Church of Turner Station: I had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Theodore Patterson and his family attending church there for many years as a little girl. My grandfather and grandmother The late Sidney and Maggie Small, Mr. and Mrs. Mary Branch, The Howard family and Mrs. Good and Mrs. Moore attended the same church. Dr. Theodore Patterson left a Legacy for his family, his community and friends serving us all. We had a saying during church service "Peace be with you" telling one another. Dr. Theodore Patterson aka (cousin Teddy) in my words will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Earth has lost a great and good man but Heaven has gained a true and faithful Angel. We are keeping his dear wife and family in our prayers for days to come. Love Always Mrs. Diane Moss-Lewis and family
*Alexander Pierre "A. P." Tureaud, Sr. (February 26, 1899 – January 22, 1972) was an African-American attorney who headed the legal team for the New Orleans chapter of the NAACP during the Civil Rights Movement. With the assistance of Thurgood Marshall and Robert Carter from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, A. P. Tureaud filed the lawsuit that successfully ended the system of Jim Crow segregation in New Orleans. That case paved the way for integrating the first two elementary schools in the Deep South. (From Wikipedia).
Labels: Baltimore Sun, Dundalk Maryland, Jacques Kelly, Morgan State University, Sparrows Point, Sylvia Tureaud, Theodore C. Pattreson
posted by Juliana L'Heureux at 9:08 AM
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