Memorial Service Is March 18 for Bill Patterson, Former Business College Prof, Administrator
March 12, 2013
William W. "Bill" Patterson Jr. of Virginia Beach, associate professor emeritus of information systems and decision sciences at Old Dominion, died March 7, 2013, after a brief illness. He was 86.
Born and raised in Naugatuck, Conn., Patterson was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduated and was commissioned in 1951, and served 20 years. After earning an M.B.A. from ODU in 1971, he began his second career with the university that year in the College of Business and Public Administration, joining the faculty as an instructor of information systems/decision sciences.
He served as a department chair in 1976-77, and was promoted to assistant professor in 1979 and to associate professor in 1983. Patterson spent much of his career working in the dean's office. In the mid-1970s, he served as assistant dean of the business college, and as acting dean in 1978-79. He was the assistant dean from 1979-81.
Patterson served as associate dean in 1984 and was appointed interim dean in 1990. He returned to the associate dean position in 1991, where he served another three years before rejoining the faculty. Patterson retired on June 1, 1997, after 26 years at ODU. In retirement, he enjoyed competitive bridge and was a Life Master.
Gilbert Yochum, dean of the business college, called Patterson "one of the most notable and formative figures in the history of our college. Bill served the college for more than a quarter of a century as an assistant, associate and interim dean. Those of us who knew him were honored to be associated with him. For those not so privileged, Bill was an omnipresent figure in the day-to-day life of this college."
Patterson is survived by his wife and partner of 56 years, Dorothy M. Patterson; daughter Kim Cunningham and her husband, Bill, of Tennessee; son Trip Patterson and his wife, Julie, and two granddaughters, Autumn and Natalie, of New Jersey; and daughter Tricia Rogerson and her husband, Brian, and four grandsons, Jake, Troy, Mark and Mike, of Virginia Beach. His grandchildren brought much joy into his life. He is also survived by his sisters Audrey Fritschman and her husband, Chris, and Linda Patterson and niece Leona Rickerson, all of Virginia Beach.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 18, at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach.
Friends may share their condolences at www.kellumfuneralhome.com.