In Memory Of
Anita Patka
1930
2024
Anita Patka
September 2, 1930 — February 6, 2024
Anita Nilsa Alpar Patka, 93 passed away peacefully on February 6, 2024 at The Beverwyck in Slingerlands, New York, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 2, 1930 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the only child of Akos and Risa (Schossberger) Alpar. She spoke German, Hungarian and Portuguese since childhood. She learned French and Latin in school.
As an enterprising teen and aspiring linguist, Anita taught herself and tutored adults in English. She graduated from MacKenzie Business School in 1947. She worked for the British Power and Light Company. She met Professor Frederick (Fritz) Patka at a Hungarian social event. They married in December 1949 and had two daughters, Christine and Susan. Susan died of heart complications within the first year of her life. During their six years in Brazil, Anita helped her husband compile, edit and publish a Hungarian-Portuguese dictionary. She helped him publish and mail a monthly newsletter on Philosophy to colleges and universities in America.
They immigrated to Germantown in Philadelphia, PA in 1955 with their surviving daughter. Anita helped her husband in mundane jobs while he taught college to earn money for their first house. She welcomed and helped two families to the United States during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and another family from Brazil in 1961, with whom she became lifelong friends. Her two sons, Andrew and Carl, were born in Abington, Pennsylvania. As she raised Christine, Andrew and Carl, she read Philosophy, Linguistics and Literature and became proficient in Spanish and Italian. She typed and edited the manuscripts of her husband's novels and books on modern philosophy. She earned a bachelor's degree Summa Cum Laude in History and Political Science after 3 years of study at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. She went on to earn a master's degree with Honors in Special Education at Saint Rose and earned a second master's degree as a Reading Specialist under an Assistantship to Dr. Pimsleur at the University of New York at Albany. She taught court-adjudicated teenage boys at the La Salle School for Boys and later spent several years teaching special needs adolescents at Parsons Child and Family Center, both in Albany. Her students appreciated the love, respect and reason-based educational therapy she provided them. She retired in 1994.
After her husband died, Anita embarked on a successful career in painting in oils and watercolor. She studied under Betsy Apgar Smith of Schoharie, New York and Kristin Woodward of Colonie, New York. She participated in art shows at the Colonie Library and the Beverwyck and won awards. She met her dear friend, Julian Belin at the Albany Unitarian Universalist Society in Albany where she taught in the youth ministry and helped in the food pantry. She loved animals, gardening, and music. She thoroughly enjoyed her many activities and friends at the Beverwyck.
However, the most important thing in Anita's life was her profound love for her family. Not a day passed without contact with one of her children. She traveled to Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary to see her origins and extended family. She spent many summers enjoying the beaches in Maine and Cape Cod during family vacations.
She is survived by her daughter, Christine (Bruce) Martindale, her son, Andrew (Susan Egeth) Patka, her son, Carl (Anna Smirensky) Patka; her grandchildren: Emily, Thomas, Daniel, Isaac (Justine Aloise), Rachael and Sophie, and her great-grandchild, Leo.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Community Hospice and to Maxine Lepak and her team of aides.
In accordance with her wishes, services will be held privately. Internment will be at the Albany Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Anita will appreciate donations in her memory for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org; Community Hospice, (www.communityhospice.org); Peaceful Acres Horses 3740 Rynex Corners Road in Pattersonville, New York (www.peacefulacreshorses.com); Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (mohawkhumane.org).
To share a memory of Anita or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
As an enterprising teen and aspiring linguist, Anita taught herself and tutored adults in English. She graduated from MacKenzie Business School in 1947. She worked for the British Power and Light Company. She met Professor Frederick (Fritz) Patka at a Hungarian social event. They married in December 1949 and had two daughters, Christine and Susan. Susan died of heart complications within the first year of her life. During their six years in Brazil, Anita helped her husband compile, edit and publish a Hungarian-Portuguese dictionary. She helped him publish and mail a monthly newsletter on Philosophy to colleges and universities in America.
They immigrated to Germantown in Philadelphia, PA in 1955 with their surviving daughter. Anita helped her husband in mundane jobs while he taught college to earn money for their first house. She welcomed and helped two families to the United States during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and another family from Brazil in 1961, with whom she became lifelong friends. Her two sons, Andrew and Carl, were born in Abington, Pennsylvania. As she raised Christine, Andrew and Carl, she read Philosophy, Linguistics and Literature and became proficient in Spanish and Italian. She typed and edited the manuscripts of her husband's novels and books on modern philosophy. She earned a bachelor's degree Summa Cum Laude in History and Political Science after 3 years of study at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. She went on to earn a master's degree with Honors in Special Education at Saint Rose and earned a second master's degree as a Reading Specialist under an Assistantship to Dr. Pimsleur at the University of New York at Albany. She taught court-adjudicated teenage boys at the La Salle School for Boys and later spent several years teaching special needs adolescents at Parsons Child and Family Center, both in Albany. Her students appreciated the love, respect and reason-based educational therapy she provided them. She retired in 1994.
After her husband died, Anita embarked on a successful career in painting in oils and watercolor. She studied under Betsy Apgar Smith of Schoharie, New York and Kristin Woodward of Colonie, New York. She participated in art shows at the Colonie Library and the Beverwyck and won awards. She met her dear friend, Julian Belin at the Albany Unitarian Universalist Society in Albany where she taught in the youth ministry and helped in the food pantry. She loved animals, gardening, and music. She thoroughly enjoyed her many activities and friends at the Beverwyck.
However, the most important thing in Anita's life was her profound love for her family. Not a day passed without contact with one of her children. She traveled to Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary to see her origins and extended family. She spent many summers enjoying the beaches in Maine and Cape Cod during family vacations.
She is survived by her daughter, Christine (Bruce) Martindale, her son, Andrew (Susan Egeth) Patka, her son, Carl (Anna Smirensky) Patka; her grandchildren: Emily, Thomas, Daniel, Isaac (Justine Aloise), Rachael and Sophie, and her great-grandchild, Leo.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Community Hospice and to Maxine Lepak and her team of aides.
In accordance with her wishes, services will be held privately. Internment will be at the Albany Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Anita will appreciate donations in her memory for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org; Community Hospice, (www.communityhospice.org); Peaceful Acres Horses 3740 Rynex Corners Road in Pattersonville, New York (www.peacefulacreshorses.com); Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (mohawkhumane.org).
To share a memory of Anita or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Anita Patka, please visit our flower store.
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