Obituary of Patricia S. Joseph

November 6, 2023

Patricia Joseph, a beloved grandmother and friend, world traveler and
adventurer, caregiver and patron of the arts, passed away at home on
November 6, 2023, just a month shy of her 90th birthday.

She was born in New Jersey in the midst of the Depression, raised in
Teaneck, NJ, and graduated in the class of 1951 from Teaneck High
School before attending Skidmore College in New York.

Two marriages — to William, an architect, and to Neil, a sculptor —
gave Pat, as she was known, the chance to live in university towns
(Athens, Ohio and Oshkosh, Wisconsin), and she took full advantage,
taking many courses and thoroughly enjoying campus life.

Pat’s mother, Claire (Larsen) Stryker, died in 1978 and her father,
Walter J. Stryker, in 1996. Her stepmother, Marion C. Stryker in 2012,
and her aunt Mildred Blasko (to whom Pat was particularly devoted) in
January of 2013. She is survived by two cousins, Tommy Larsen and
Scott Miller.

Pat met the love of her life John L. Joseph in 1975, and they had an
adventurous and wonderful life together. They honeymooned in Haiti and
had a memorable trip to China, among many other farflung places. John
died in 1989 after a marriage of 14 years.

Pat is also survived by John Joseph’s family: two step-daughters,
Claire Joseph and her late husband Mark Hunter, and Jean Kumar and her
late husband Mohan Kumar. Pat was a loving grandmother to Galen
Joseph-Hunter and her husband Tom Roe, Eli Joseph-Hunter and his wife
Briana Davis, Sona Kumar and her husband Vicente Mata-Silva, and Raj
Kumar and his wife Maria Teresa Kumar.

She was also an important presence in the life of her six
great-grandchildren, Echo Audrey Roe, Celia June Joseph, Meiko Edwin
Joseph, Amir Francisco Mata, Lucia Mercedes Kumar and Eduardo Kumar.
Celebrating and guiding these babies as they grew gave Pat much joy in
her later years.

Pat was a resident of the Upper West Side of New York City for 22
years and before that of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. She has been a
patron of the arts and a lover of theater. Pat was especially proud of
her contribution that made possible the renovation of the Polar Bear
Diorama in the Hall of Ocean Life at the American Museum of Natural
History. She was also engaged with an organization called End of Life
Choice New York that advocates for the rights of the terminally ill.

Perhaps Pat’s most important contributions was as a caregiver — in
ways small and large — for members of her extended family. Of
particular note is the decade she spent caring for her Aunt Mildred.
Her close friendship with Aurora Lindemberg for over 30 years and
David Mulchinock for over 40 years are emblematic: Pat was a devoted
and caring friend and family member. She will be greatly missed.

Pat requested that contributions in her memory may be made to the
charity of your choice or to:

End of Life Choices, New York
244 Fifth Avenue, 2010
New York, New York 10017-7604
c/o The Patricia Stryker Joseph Legacy Society