Patricia S. (Smith) Randolph

Patricia Ann Smith Randolph, known to her loved ones as “Pat”, passed away December 18, 2020 at age 86 of severe complications, following a routine angioplasty procedure at Maine Medical. Born in Greenville, PA, January 15, 1934, she was the daughter of Ford E Smith Jr. & Margaret Katherine Fulmer and older sister Dolores. Her father was Chief Engineer with Chicago Bridge and Iron, while her mother nurtured their two children at home.

In 1956, Pat graduated from University of Illinois at Champagne Urbana in Commercial Art. While attending college she met and married fellow student Robert Randolph. Their only child, Heather Elisabeth Randolph was born in Springfield, MA. In the early 60’s Pat moved her family to Washington DC, where her husband took a post with President Lyndon Johnson. During those years Pat hosted and attended lavish parties which included Nixon’s Inaugural Ball in 1969.

In the early 70’s Pat relocated again with her family to Chicago, in order to work for University of Chicago in Public Relations, which she said was “the best job I ever had.” In 1974 they moved to Western Massachusetts, where her husband was appointed President of Westfield State College.

After divorcing, Pat moved to Amherst while continuing to work at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Here she also attended the University, receiving both a Masters and Ph.D. in Education in 1983. Soon after this, Pat moved to Hallowell, ME, working in medical care development. This job took her all over parts of Maine, allowing her love of driving a sporty German manual, which tickled her inner self.

In the 90’s Pat accepted a Human Resources position with a manufacturing company. After a bit, her interest shifted from HR to Supervisor in the manufacturing of circuit boards.

Retiring to Portland, ME, she first took a part-time job with Hannaford’s Supermarket in Customer Service. Pat always loved to keep busy, and this energy brought her to H & R Block, where she became a seasonal tax preparer, and not long after, obtained her Enrolled Agent credentials in 2012.

In her leisure time, Pat could be found helping her daughter fix up her Cape Cod rental property. Together they would ‘re-decorate’ and ‘interior design’ the house. Also, Pat spent a lot of time cleverly designing her interior space in Portland.

Pat can be best remembered for her love of travel and creativity throughout her life. Her art background came to the forefront in many different ways. From the choosing of colors for her walls, to various small ‘do it herself” projects. Everyone who knew Pat was always amazed by the breadth of her knowledge in an abundance of subjects. Her gardens were her passion, making her property breathtaking. Being an avid animal lover, her first dog “Charlie Brown” a beagle who was her ‘first child’, and from that moment on Pat always had a pet in the home.

Pat is survived by her loving daughter, Heather Elisabeth, from Boston, MA, 7 year old kitty, Winston, Pat’s older sister, Dolores S. Guinn, Nephews: Ford E. Bortz (Kaeleen), John E. Bortz (Cathleen), Nieces: Susan P. Justice (Dean), Mary K. Ptaszynski (Stanley), and multiple grand-nieces.

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