SITLINGTON, Patricia L., Dr. 1946-2009

SITLINGTON, LUCAS

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 9/6/2011 at 11:56:56

Dr. Patricia Louise Sitlington passed away February 13, 2009 at her home in Cedar Falls, Iowa at the age of 62.

Born in Independence, Missouri she was the daughter of James R. Sitlington and Mary Lucas Sitlington.

Pat graduated from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana in 1968 with a B.A. in Mathematics; from the University of Hawaii in 1970 with a M. Ed. in Special Education/Educational Psychology; and from the University of Kansas in 1976 with a Ph.D. in Vocational/Career Programming.

Her academic career began at the University of Northern Iowa in 1976, followed by seven years at Indiana University-Bloomington from 1979 to 1986, then a return to the University of Northern Iowa from 1992 to the present, where she was Professor in the Department of Special Education. From 1986 to 1992 she worked with the Iowa Department of Education as project director in the Bureau of Special Education.

During her tenure at the University of Northern Iowa, Pat served as a member of the Iowa Academy of Education, was recognized as Reviewer of the year in 2001 by Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, and received the Oliver P. Kolstoe Award, presented to and individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of career development and transition through means other than direct classroom instruction.

In 2002 Pat was awarded the prestigious Philip G. Hubbard Award, presented annually to only one individual in each university college.

In 2006 she was presented with The Patricia L. Sitlington Research in Transition Award, named in her honor and presented to an individual who has contributed to more positive outcomes for transition-aged youth and to the field of transition through a body of research in transition.

She authored or co-authored 24 research-based articles for major Special Education journals and co-authored Transition Education & Services for Adolescents with Disabilities, a book recognized as a standard in its field, now in its 5th edition.

Comments from her colleagues after Pat’s passing all bore the same message and tone: “Pat has had a huge impact on our field and had a major part in shaping much of what we do now in secondary transition education.”

Pat was an avid golfer and sports fan, often saying that the Golf Channel was “Manna from Heaven” for her. She avidly followed and supported all UNI Panther teams and routinely notified her relatives when a Panther game would be on national TV. She loved the several dachshunds she owned during her life, finding great irony in naming each of them for a beer brand. Above all, she loved her family.

Pat is survived by her brother James R. Sitlington, Jr. and his wife Mary K. of Cincinnati, OH; by her niece Suzanne Sitington and grand-nephew Jack Thomas of Norwood, Colorado; by her niece and god-daughter Mary Patricia (Sitlington) Donlon, her husband Bill grand-niece Mary Elizabeth, grand-nephew Patrick James and grand-nephew and godson Michael William of Houston, Texas; by her nephew James R. Sitlington, III, his wife Carol, grand-niece Megan and grand-nephew James IV of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and by her nephew Thomas Edward Sitlington, grand-niece Rachelle and grand-nephew Thomas Edward of Cincinnati, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the St. Stephen The Witness Catholic Student Center on University of Northern Iowa’s campus; to the Humane Society of Waterloo, or to the Gary M. Clark Award in Special Education (founded by Pat in honor of her mentor) which presents stipends annually to Special Education students.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 21, 2009, at St. Stephen The Witness Catholic Student Center. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Independence, Missouri. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p. m Friday, February 20, 2009, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, with a rosary service at 4:00 p.m. and a scripture service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour before service at the church on Saturday.

[Source: Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, Cedar Falls, Iowa]

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SS: SITLINGTON, PATRICIA L 24 May 1946

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