Zera David Patterson

Zera “David” Patterson passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease on April 3, 2025 in Carlsbad, CA with his loving wife of 64 years at his side and surrounded by family. He was 88 years old.

Affectionately known as “Z” by both family and friends, he led a happy, successful life punctuated with a firm handshake, a twinkle in his eye and his signature beaming smile.

Born to Robert Fenton Patterson and Anne Wilson Patterson of New Britain, CT. Z’s father was a Major in the United States Army who died in the Second World War when he was 7 years old. His father had a profound effect on Z’s life instilling a sense of duty, honor and respect for every person who crossed his path. A true gentleman, Z enriched the many lives he touched; family and friends were everything to him.

Upon graduation from the Pomfret School in 1955, where he captained three varsity sports, Z enlisted in the United States Marine Corps following in the steps of father and oldest brother, Robert Fenton Patterson II, for whom he had a profound respect. Returning from his service during the Cold War, Z matriculated at Babson College and immediately married the love of his life, Diantha “Di” Sheldon, whom he first met as a child at the Moreland Hill Day School in New Britain, CT. Z and Di wasted no time in setting sail for Great Britain where he studied at the London School of Economics charting a course for a career in commercial banking and venture capital.

Joining the Management Training Program at the Bank of New England Z spent several wonderful years in Boston, MA working in virtually every aspect of the Bank’s commercial lending business. He eventually joined and later led the Bank’s venture capital subsidiary, the New England Capital Corporation, for 20 years. After Fleet Bank acquired the Bank of New England, Z co-founded the Cincinnati, OH based private venture capital firm, Blue Chip Venture Capital, where he successfully raised, invested and managed multiple funds over the course of 18 years. Z’s entrepreneurial spirit continued to guide him well into his retirement from Blue Chip Venture Capital as he continued to invest in private early stage companies.

Serving two terms as a member of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, he completed the Venture Capital Executive Program at the Harvard Business School and was a faculty member of the National Venture Capital Institute where he was a frequent speaker.

A long-time resident of Duxbury, MA, Z and Di raised their children Brooks Curtiss and Sarah Wilson Patterson in their beloved town that at the time was principally a summer community save for a few brave souls willing to commute into Boston. Sailing on Duxbury Bay when the tide was high and swim, golf, tennis at the Duxbury Yacht Club when the tide was low, Z built a cherished life surrounded by those he held dear.

He is predeceased by his sister Alice Wade of Atlanta, GA and his brother Robert Fenton Patterson II of Princeton, NJ. Z is survived by his loving wife Di, his son Brooks and wife Amy Foster Patterson of Newburyport, MA and his daughter Sarah and husband Kurt Christoph de Pfyffer of Carlsbad, CA as well as his brother Charles Wilson Patterson of New York, NY. Quick to laugh and easy to smile, Z also leaves a legacy of happy times spent with his grandchildren Emily and Eliza Patterson and Zack, Max, Daniel and Austin de Pyffer all of whom embody his fun loving, good natured spirit.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date in Duxbury, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name (Class of 1955) to the Pomfret School, 398 Pomfret Street, PO Box 128, Pomfret, CT 06258-0128.