Patty Bickar
This week is American Education Week, and local members of the teachers group Delta Kappa Gamma are observing it with a tribute to Patty Bickar, a Sitka math teacher for 20 years.
Bickar died August 14, at age 93.
Lois Rhodes, also a teacher and a longtime friend of Bickar, wrote a piece, “Remembering Patty,” to recognize what Bickar contributed to Sitka over the years, both as a teacher and as an active member of the community.
“Remembering Patty”
Patty came to Sitka in 1960 as a wife, mother of young children and business partner to her husband, Oliver “Porky” Bickar. Patty started teaching eighth grade math and algebra in 1967 at the Etolin Street School. The following year she moved to the newly completed Blatchley Middle School teaching math and algebra until she retired in 1987.
Patty served generations of students and mentored many young teachers throughout her career. She has been a member of Iota Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary teachers society, since 1969, making her the second member in Sitka to receive her 50-year pin. She was Iota’s president from 1975 to 1978 and Beta Gamma State president 1985-1987.
Sitka Lutheran Church lost a long-time, dedicated member and friend in Patty Bickar. Patty was Sunday School superintendent in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. She was on the church council more than once and although she was never president, she was a leader in generosity, dollars, time and by example.
The Bickars made the largest pledge in the church community for years and years. Patty also made many religious cross-stitch pieces for the church, some of which are still displayed. She gave her time and talents into fundraising activities for the church over the years, and was especially known for her own caramel corn creation. It was so popular that tour buses would stop at the church so that tourists could purchase some of her caramel corn for their trip.
Patty always was an overachiever. When the church had their annual pie sale for Sitka’s Alaska Day Celebration she didn’t make a pie, she made 50 pies. Her apple pies were made from the apples on her own tree and were a best seller.
Patty was known for her handmade gifts, which she bestowed on everyone she came in contact with. She was very active in Don Seesz’s evening woodworking class, where she made bird feeders, doll cradles and Norwegian stacking boxes, and progressed to making Morris Chairs. She was such a dedicated and faithful student that they awarded her a prize of free tuition for the rest of her life.
Patty was the first female member of the Sitka Rotary Club, and the first female Rotarian in Alaska, joining soon after Rotary began admitting women in 1987. She was instrumental in starting the Rotary fundraising project with the buying, distributing and selling of roses throughout our town. She was an active member of the club and was president in 1993-1994. She was instrumental in the 4th of July Rotary Duck Race fundraising activity. In addition to that she did the Cancer Society daffodil sale for many years. If she wasn’t involved in planning an event you would see her supporting events throughout the year.
In 1991, Patty became a founding member of the Sitka Babies and Books organization and was the driving force behind producing and mailing the monthly newsletter and birthday books to Sitka families with young children.
As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “You never really get to know somebody until you go camping with them.” That was how it was with Patty. She traveled the globe, first with her husband, ”Porky,” and later with some of her friends. She was a fun traveling partner to all.
In her waning years, Patty took good care of Sitka’s ducks on Swan Lake, feeding them cracked corn on her daily walks.
Patty is survived by her sons David and Brian and daughter Christianne and their families. We will always remember Patty as the vibrant, happy and involved person that she was. Patty Bickar will be missed but never forgotten.
