Jerry Pattee: One of a Kind

UCP Oregon is sad to announce the death of longterm Board member, Jerry Pattee (April 1, 1953–March 20, 2019).

​Jerry had an immense impact on UCP Oregon--and Oregon's larger disability community, changing the lives of hundreds of other people who were also affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

The following was written by  Jan Shellenberger (Jerry’s sister, who currently serves as UCP's Family Support Assistant).

A longtime resident of Portland, Jerry Pattee believed in uplifting others by offering them the benefit of his life experiences. He happily mentored to the people who flocked around him, seeing to soak up his freely offered wisdom and often astute advice.
 
Jerry became a member of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Oregon & SW Washington (UCP Oregon) in 1985. During his 34 years of service, Jerry occupied a majority of the positions available on the UCP Oregon Board, his final one being Board Historian.  
 
Jerry, a lifelong communicator, was pleased to lend his smooth bass voice to UCP’s Walk, Roll ‘n” Run radio spots. Always competitive, he used this unique opportunity to advance his “Jerry’s Kids” team into a top fundraising position.
 
Jerry immersed himself in enhancing the lives of people with and without disabilities. He was involved in a variety of other nonprofit organizations and held an assortment of positions within those organizations.
 
The following is partial list of the groups he was a member of: Self-Advocates As Leaders (SAAL) since 2004; The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) since 2005; The Community Partners Council (CPC) through OHSU since 2007; and The Oregon Office on Disability and Health.
 
Jerry spent 30 years of working in the telecommunications business, employed by Pacific Northwest Bell, US West, and Qwest. He held a number of positions during his years of employment including Technical Troubleshooter, Systems Analyst, Repair Service Manager, Test Center Manager, Dispatch Center Manager, Marketing and Information Operator. At the time of his passing, Jerry was employed by V1 Data Communications as a Service Delivery Manager.
 
Jerry enjoyed singing bass in his church choir, being a church deacon, playing the piano, maintaining a number of large house plants, spending time with his family, and enjoying his immense number of friends. 
 
Thank you, Jerry, for your guidance, expertise, commitment, and leadership!