Patricia Turley Nighswander

With great sadness, our beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and lifelong friend Patricia (aka “Pat”) Nighswander, 87, of Washington, D.C. passed away peacefully in the company of her loved ones on December 20, 2024. Pat was born in Laconia, NH and grew up in Meredith, NH. After graduating Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, she went on to study German at Connecticut College and received a master’s degree in German literature at Middlebury College. From 1968 to 1984, Pat served as a labor relations specialist in a variety of Federal Government agencies ranging from Civil Rights Commission to US Customs Service. Following that, she spent nearly thirty years as Executive Director of the National Border Patrol Council where she received annual recognition for outstanding service.

One of Pat’s notable attributes was her boundless generosity to so many people. Her home was a welcoming environment to her family, friends, and animals in need. She thrived on having a set of long-lasting friends that spanned multiple age groups. Later in life, Pat embarked on a series of overseas volunteer projects for children in places such as Cook Islands, Hungary, and Malta. She was a gifted listener and healer—one could always reach out to her in time of need and Pat would seldom seek a favor in return. She also engaged in volunteer work in animal shelters and food pantries in Washington D.C. Besides her love of people, her devotion to animals, particularly dogs was legendary. Very seldom throughout her entire life did she not have at least one dog that she cared for.

Always with an artistic eye, Pat was a lover of the arts and culture. She introduced her grand children to glass fusion, jewelry making, and painting and often exposed them to the diverse cultural offerings of Washington, D.C., a city she loved immeasurably.

Pat is survived by her son Peter, daughter-in-law, Margarida, and grand daughters, Gisele and Cassandra.

Donations in her memory may be made to the following organizations, Martha’s Table in Washington, D.C. or American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.