In the early morning of May 21, 2025 Patricia Ann Nowatzki entered eternal life serenely in Santa Barbara. She was 87 years old.
While her family’s loss is tremendous, there is comfort in knowing she is now free from earthly pain and suffering.
Patricia was born in the Bronx, New York, on March 21, 1938. She was the second child, and only daughter of her parents Kathleen (Sullivan) and Ralph F. Savarese.
She attended Aquinas High School, an all-girls, private, Roman Catholic school in the Belmont section of the Bronx.
She was one of a select group of friends who were chosen to dance on the television show “American Bandstand.” Her professional career began as an executive assistant with Asiatic Petroleum, headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan.
Patricia/Pat/Patty met, fell in love with and married Edward Alexander Nowatzki in 1962 after meeting him at a church dance. Shortly after being married, she and Ed headed to Arizona to begin living their lives together and to start their family.
Patty set out to establish herself professionally at the University of Arizona, where she earned her bachelor of arts in education.
Once her own children were raised, Patty decided to further her schooling at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she earned a master’s degree in education. Shortly thereafter, Patty began teaching second through fifth grades at various schools in Tucson.
In the late 1990s, she and Ed decided to move to San Luis Obispo, California, where she chose to continue her career as an elementary school teacher at The Laureate Private School.
Patty had a deep passion for children, and dedicated her life to educating not only her own children, but every child she encountered. She possessed a remarkable ability to connect with children; offering care, guidance, and positive reinforcement.
Patricia is predeceased by her husband Edward. She is survived by her beloved children Christopher Nowatzki (Amy) , Eileen Nowatzki, Thomas Nowatzki and Joseph Nowatzki (Susan); her precious grandchildren Taylor Nowatzki and Tanner Nowatzki; brother Ralph J. Savarese; and sister-in-law Sr. Rita Nowatzki, SC.
Services will be held in Tucson on July 25 to reunite Patty with Ed in heaven above. Services will be at Holy Family Church, 338 W. University Blvd.
Rosary will be at 10 a.m, Catholic mass at 10:30 p.m., followed by a procession to Holy Hope Cemetery, 3335 N. Oracle Road, Tucson. (Columbarium) internment and final blessing at noon.
A commemorative gathering of family and friends will be held afterward at POSTINO Grant, 2500 E. Grant Road, Ste. 112, Tucson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either or both of the following charities:
The Alliance for Citizen Directed Supports, 1167 W. Baltimore Pike #255, Media, PA 19063 or online: https://citizendirectedsupports.org/donate-today/.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago’s Neuro-Oncology Fund in memory of Charlie James Savarese, 225 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 or online: https://my.luriechildrens.org/page/43035/donate/1.