Patricia “Patty” Stewart
Patty was born in Indiana at her grandparent’s home but grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana. After graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas she worked for the National Council of Churches in New York City on a special 1 ½ year project that brought students from all over the world to a college campus in Ohio to share their ideas and experiences.
Patty married Jack Diefendorf from Manhasset, Long Island where both of their children were born. Six years later they moved to Connecticut (Weston and later Fairfield) where she was very active in community programs, including the Weston Recreational Commission, substitute teaching, and church leadership of a volunteer mediator. Enlarging her educational training she received a Masters Degree in Education from Western Connecticut State College and taught 6th grade in Wilton Connecticut.
In 1995, Patty and Jack retired to Georgetown S.C. After Jack died, she relocated to Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club, Palm City in 2004. She married Douglass Stewart, a widower, whom she and Jack had known for many years in Ct. Doug and Patty have been strong supporters of United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Blake Library, the Martin Memorial Hospital and Safe Space where they co-chaired a successful fund raising program to build a new shelter in Stuart.
Patty’s hobbies are gardening reading, travel, golf and tennis.