Patricia Lurie Blackwelder

Over 76 years, Dr. Patricia Lurie Blackwelder, Ph.D. was many things to many people: daughter, sister, student, wife, scientist, professor, entrepreneur, boss, aunt, neighbor, mother, grandmother, client, and QVC’s best customer.  More than anything, she was herself, she did it her way, and there was nothing* that could stop her.

Born in 1947 to Connie and Charles Lurie, she grew up in New York City alongside her brother Robert.  The future scientist attended Queens College on a scholarship.  She continued her tour of academic excellence at Duke University, where she obtained a Masters in Science and the love of her life, partner in geologic crime, and babe, the distinguished Professor Brion Blackwelder, Esquire.  Pat next went to South Carolina, becoming Dr. Blackwelder, with a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of South Carolina.

Dr. Blackwelder landed in South Florida, becoming Professor Blackwelder at both Nova Southeastern University and the University of Miami, going on to teach and work at those two universities, simultaneously, for approximately 42 years and 34 years, respectively.  In that time, Professor Blackwelder published over sixty academic articles, served as scientific coordinator and supervisor of UM’s Center for Advanced Microscopy and at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and was a teacher, colleague, and friend to many.

Not content with that, Professor Blackwelder also co-founded and ran a business, EM Analytical.  EM Analytical was a woman owned and woman powered business that played an important role in the mitigation of asbestos and in conducting important scientific research. 

Professor Blackwelder became Aunt to her nephews and nieces, Mom with the birth of her beautiful daughter Katie, Mom-in-Law upon her daughter’s marriage to Katie’s questionable (but actually not-so-bad) husband Vincent, and quickly thereafter became Grandma to her wonderful grandchildren: Vincent (fourth of his name), Anthony, Adrianna, and Giovanni.

Pat enjoyed other pursuits.  She took frequent family-centered vacations: visiting Europe, touring the country in her daughter’s pursuit of equine excellence, taking her grandchildren to Disney, and spending holidays with her family across the Eastern Seaboard.  Pat loved genealogy, gardening, decorating, dining out, exploring museums, whipping up a frittata, cooking a turkey dinner (no matter the time of year), her dogs (especially Corgis), buying from QVC (sometimes live and at the studio), and, more than anything, having her husband at her side. 

Pat is survived by her husband, daughter, grandchildren, son-in-law, brother, siblings-in-law (Blake, Brent, Diane, Joann, and Terry), many nieces and nephews, and her Welsh Corgi (His Majesty).

A funeral will be held on May 5, 2023, at 11:30 am at the Church of the Little Flower in Hollywood, Florida with a repast and memorial luncheon to follow at the Rustic Inn from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, her grandchildren are establishing a fund to help young girls who want to go into the sciences, please reach out to the family if you are interested.

*On April 27, 2023, shortly after an Easter holiday spent at her historic Hollywood, Florida home with family, Pat passed away from the brain cancer she had been bravely fighting for almost three years.