Obituary for Fred E. Patterson, MD, FACR
Fred E. Patterson, MD, FACR
Fred Eugene Patterson, 88, of Ann Arbor, MI, died at home on February 8, 2022 after a short illness.
Fred – known throughout childhood as Eugene – was born at home in Greenfield, IA in the midst of the Great Depression. Born into a family that included his mother, Helen; his father, Fred; and his elder sister, Mary. Fred’s arrival sparked profound joy in not only his parents and sister, but his paternal grandparents; Grandma and Grandpa Patterson. Clever, mischievous, ceaselessly loving, and deeply devoted to his family from the start, you could often find a young towheaded Eugene at his grandparents’ farm, sitting on his grandma’s knee, working with his grandpa in his chicken coop, playfully pranking his parents, and regularly getting his sister’s goat. A self-described mediocre student, Fred graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, IA in 1951. At the time of his high school graduation all students who graduated from an Iowa high school were given admission to a state university which gave this “mediocre” student the opportunity to enroll in the University of Iowa. Fred went on to earn an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1955. An aspiring physicist who realized that his math skills weren’t quite strong enough to pursue a career in physics, Fred chose to pursue medicine and graduated from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in 1958. It is as a physician that Fred found his true calling.
Following his graduation from medical school, Fred joined the US Air Force and the freshly minted, baby-faced physician became Capt. Fred Patterson. His service in the Air Force took him around the globe with Fred serving in bases in Mobile, AL; Tacoma, WA; Châteauroux, France; and most notably, in Taranto, Italy where he served as Chief Medical Officer and Head of the Dispensary. Upon his return to the States, Fred eventually made his way to Ann Arbor, MI, where he was able to join the faculty at the University of Michigan Medical School which allowed him to pursue his great passion for radiology and still be near to his beloved mother and sister who lived in Elk Grove, IL. In addition to being on faculty at the University of Michigan Medical School, he was a radiologist at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. In 1980, Fred was given the opportunity to lead the radiology department at what was then called Foote Hospital in Jackson, MI where Fred served as the Medical Director and Chief of Imaging Services from 1980 to 1999. In 1991, Fred was recognized as a Fellow by the American College of Radiology, one of the highest honors bestowed to radiologists. For the nearly two decades that Fred was the Chief of Imaging Services at Foote, Fred often said he looked forward to going to work every single day. Always striving to improve patient care by addressing the imperfections in the medical system, Fred was an active member of the Michigan State Medical Society and the Washtenaw County Medical Society, serving on the Executive Council until his death.
His love of medicine was only exceeded by his love of his family. For nearly 50 years, Fred was married to Margaret Polmear Patterson who he traveled the world with. It was only with Fred’s endless support and uncommon steadfastness that Margaret was able pursue her dreams. Together Fred and Margaret raised two daughters, Anne and Kathryn. Fred’s devotion to his daughters was unmatched. He was their endless cheerleader; their constant problem-solving partner; their steady anchor; and above all, their Freddie.
Fred was a man with a brilliant mind, an insatiable curiosity, an ability to fix or improve absolutely anything, and a commitment to abundant generosity. He was a self-taught woodworker, a master walking stick craftsman, a skillful photographer, an attentive gardener (with a particular fondness for charming garden gnomes), a voracious learner, a student of the teachings of the Dalai Lama, a fearless pontoon boat captain, and a perpetual putterer. Mischievous to end, Fred had an easy playfulness and an incredible sense of humor that charmed just about everyone around him. A man who contained multitudes; Fred loved Iowa, he loved being a doctor, he loved exploring the world, he loved dogs, he loved eating out, he loved hats, he loved tools, he loved gadgets, he loved his lake house, and he loved spending time with his friends and family. An irrepressible storyteller, Fred began most stories by asking “have I told you this story before?” and even if you’d heard it countless times, you always paused to listen because a Fred Patterson story is rarely disappointed.
Fred is survived by his wife, Margaret; his daughter Anne, her partner, Cheryl, and their son – his cherished, left handed grandson, Cal; his daughter, Kathryn and her husband Steve, and their pups – his treasured granddogs, Boogie and Pharaoh; in addition to many beloved sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
Some time this summer, during one of those perfect days at the lake that Freddie loved so much, family will gather to scatter his ashes and celebrate his truly full and incredible life. We promise there will be lots of stories.
Fred Eugene Patterson, 88, of Ann Arbor, MI, died at home on February 8, 2022 after a short illness.
Fred – known throughout childhood as Eugene – was born at home in Greenfield, IA in the midst of the Great Depression. Born into a family that included his mother, Helen; his father, Fred; and his elder sister, Mary. Fred’s arrival sparked profound joy in not only his parents and sister, but his paternal grandparents; Grandma and Grandpa Patterson. Clever, mischievous, ceaselessly loving, and deeply devoted to his family from the start, you could often find a young towheaded Eugene at his grandparents’ farm, sitting on his grandma’s knee, working with his grandpa in his chicken coop, playfully pranking his parents, and regularly getting his sister’s goat. A self-described mediocre student, Fred graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, IA in 1951. At the time of his high school graduation all students who graduated from an Iowa high school were given admission to a state university which gave this “mediocre” student the opportunity to enroll in the University of Iowa. Fred went on to earn an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1955. An aspiring physicist who realized that his math skills weren’t quite strong enough to pursue a career in physics, Fred chose to pursue medicine and graduated from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in 1958. It is as a physician that Fred found his true calling.
Following his graduation from medical school, Fred joined the US Air Force and the freshly minted, baby-faced physician became Capt. Fred Patterson. His service in the Air Force took him around the globe with Fred serving in bases in Mobile, AL; Tacoma, WA; Châteauroux, France; and most notably, in Taranto, Italy where he served as Chief Medical Officer and Head of the Dispensary. Upon his return to the States, Fred eventually made his way to Ann Arbor, MI, where he was able to join the faculty at the University of Michigan Medical School which allowed him to pursue his great passion for radiology and still be near to his beloved mother and sister who lived in Elk Grove, IL. In addition to being on faculty at the University of Michigan Medical School, he was a radiologist at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. In 1980, Fred was given the opportunity to lead the radiology department at what was then called Foote Hospital in Jackson, MI where Fred served as the Medical Director and Chief of Imaging Services from 1980 to 1999. In 1991, Fred was recognized as a Fellow by the American College of Radiology, one of the highest honors bestowed to radiologists. For the nearly two decades that Fred was the Chief of Imaging Services at Foote, Fred often said he looked forward to going to work every single day. Always striving to improve patient care by addressing the imperfections in the medical system, Fred was an active member of the Michigan State Medical Society and the Washtenaw County Medical Society, serving on the Executive Council until his death.
His love of medicine was only exceeded by his love of his family. For nearly 50 years, Fred was married to Margaret Polmear Patterson who he traveled the world with. It was only with Fred’s endless support and uncommon steadfastness that Margaret was able pursue her dreams. Together Fred and Margaret raised two daughters, Anne and Kathryn. Fred’s devotion to his daughters was unmatched. He was their endless cheerleader; their constant problem-solving partner; their steady anchor; and above all, their Freddie.
Fred was a man with a brilliant mind, an insatiable curiosity, an ability to fix or improve absolutely anything, and a commitment to abundant generosity. He was a self-taught woodworker, a master walking stick craftsman, a skillful photographer, an attentive gardener (with a particular fondness for charming garden gnomes), a voracious learner, a student of the teachings of the Dalai Lama, a fearless pontoon boat captain, and a perpetual putterer. Mischievous to end, Fred had an easy playfulness and an incredible sense of humor that charmed just about everyone around him. A man who contained multitudes; Fred loved Iowa, he loved being a doctor, he loved exploring the world, he loved dogs, he loved eating out, he loved hats, he loved tools, he loved gadgets, he loved his lake house, and he loved spending time with his friends and family. An irrepressible storyteller, Fred began most stories by asking “have I told you this story before?” and even if you’d heard it countless times, you always paused to listen because a Fred Patterson story is rarely disappointed.
Fred is survived by his wife, Margaret; his daughter Anne, her partner, Cheryl, and their son – his cherished, left handed grandson, Cal; his daughter, Kathryn and her husband Steve, and their pups – his treasured granddogs, Boogie and Pharaoh; in addition to many beloved sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
Some time this summer, during one of those perfect days at the lake that Freddie loved so much, family will gather to scatter his ashes and celebrate his truly full and incredible life. We promise there will be lots of stories.