Patricia Totten
Patricia Totten, who worked 45 years in the Office of Alumni Affairs, died May 25,
2014, at St. Peter鈥檚 Hospice in Albany.
Born March 29, 1931, in Saratoga Springs, she was a lifelong resident of the city
who graduated in 1949 from the former St. Peter鈥檚 Academy on Broadway. She began working
at Skidmore鈥檚 development office in 1950 and moved to the Office of Alumni Affairs
in 1973 as an administrative assistant, a title she held until her 1995 retirement.
Pat was well known for editing the class news items published in Skidmore Scope, and
when she retired she was the subject of a feature in the publication. According to
the story, 鈥淎t first it was the happy prospect of earning a whopping $25 a week (respectable
wages in 1950) that attracted her to Skidmore. But what kept her here so long was
the College itself. 鈥楾his is a great place to work,鈥� Totten said. 鈥楶eople care about
each other. We become like family.鈥欌��
Pat worked under four Skidmore presidents and accumulated many colorful memories.
The story noted, 鈥淥ffices in one Victorian mansion were so cold in winter, 鈥榳e stuffed
copies of alumnae publications under the doors to keep out the drafts.鈥欌�� Her key responsibilities
were to provide information for class newsletters, the Alumnae Quarterly, and Scope
magazine, working with some 60 volunteer class secretaries. 鈥淛obs, marriages, births,
deaths, degrees, travels鈥攖he lives of thousands of alumni were grist for her typewriter
and then for her computer. 鈥業 loved it; you learn a lot about people,鈥� Pat said.鈥�
Former Alumni Affairs Director Victoria Green Aldrich 鈥�74 said, 鈥淎s the editor of
Class Notes, Pat knew every alum. She was integral to keeping alumni informed of what
was happening in their classmates鈥� lives.鈥�
Larry Lichtenstein 鈥�79 also served as alumni affairs director during Pat鈥檚 tenure.
He called her 鈥渨onderfully polite and warm鈥攁n enormously likeable person.鈥� Larry
added, 鈥淪he formed very close relationships with class secretaries, who valued the
work she did with them, and that is a big reason she was named an honorary alumna
in 1995.鈥� It was a fitting honor for an employee who called Skidmore 鈥渕y life,鈥� and
it was a very meaningful recognition for Pat.
Pat鈥檚 survivors include a sister, Sister Margaret Totten, C.S.J., of the Provincial
House, Latham; and two brothers, Thomas F. (Alberta) of Ballston Lake and John J.
(Katherine) of Saratoga Springs. Pat was predeceased by her fianc茅, L.D. Bull, a longtime
Skidmore carpenter, and a sister and brother-in-law, Marie Elizabeth and Kenneth Savard.
Burial was at St. Peter鈥檚 Cemetery.