In Memoriam: Virginia Patterson

Virginia (Ginny) Patterson passed away on April 7, 2015 at the age of 94. She was a respected and beloved teacher, clinician and researcher who touched the lives of many during her seven decades of contributions to the UCSF Department of Psychiatry. She obtained her BA and MA in psychology at Stanford University and completed her clinical psychology fellowship at the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute (LPPI) in 1946-1947, shortly after the facility opened.

Ginny worked as a psychologist at several community agencies before returning to LPPI in 1950 as a staff psychologist. At LPPI, she was an active clinical faculty member and respected supervisor in the Adult Outpatient Department for many years, even after her formal retirement. Ginny also was a clinical researcher, publishing peer-reviewed articles on topics including brief psychotherapy, measurement and training. Her career exemplified the scientist-practitioner model of clinical psychology.

She served in many roles in the UCSF Clinical Psychology Training Program (CPTP): as one of its first trainees in the 1940s; as a role model on the psychology staff at LPPI; and as a UCSF faculty member, being promoted to Clinical Professor in 1984. Following her retirement, Ginny continued to contribute to the CPTP in substantial ways as a generous donor. For a more detailed description of some of her many contributions, visit the CPTP Anniversary website.

Ginny will be remembered as a wonderful colleague, mentor, clinician, friend and member of our community. She will be deeply missed.

No scheduled funeral service has been announced. Her ashes will be scattered near the Golden Gate Bridge by the Neptune Society of Northern California.