Patricia G Henderson

Dr. Patricia G. Henderson died peacefully on Saturday, February 15th, in San Antonio, Texas. Recognized nationally and internationally as a scholar and trailblazer in the field of counseling, her legacy will extend beyond her lifetime and continue through the works of her students and colleagues.

Pat was born on October 16, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents, Chester Glenn Gifford and Loretta Regina O’Connell, moved quite a bit while Pat was school-age. As a result, Pat’s educational experience included K-12 schools in Illinois, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Ohio, where Pat won the Cincinnati City Diving Championship. Pat attended Mount Holyoke College where she graduated with an AB in English in 1962. She also received an MA in Guidance from California State University, San Jose in 1967 and an EdD in Educational Leadership from Nova University in 1986

After graduating from Mount Holyoke College, Pat spent the next 20 years in California. As a lifelong beach lover, the Southern California lifestyle felt like a good fit for her. Then, according to Pat, “In search of the perfect job, I found myself in San Antonio in 1982. As unlikely as it seems, I’m still here and thoroughly enjoy it. The city symbolizes cultural diversity. It took a while, but they have even accepted this ‘Yankee’.”

Dr. Henderson spent more than 47 years as an educator, with almost 20 of those years spent as Director of Guidance in Northside Independent School District. As Director of Guidance for Northside, Pat transformed the district’s Guidance and Counseling Department and expanded the paradigm of the counselor-student relationship. Instead of waiting for a crisis to occur or a student to knock on their door, counselors began reaching out to students with developmentally appropriate Guidance Lessons for the classroom.

Five years after Dr. Henderson’s arrival in Northside, the District was named one of the top 10 elementary guidance and counseling programs in the nation by the U. S. Department of Education. Her Comprehensive, Developmental Guidance & Counseling Program was ultimately adopted by the Texas Education Agency and now serves as the basis for state and national school counseling guidelines.

After retiring from Northside in June 2001, Pat taught graduate counseling classes at Our Lady of the Lake University, The University of Texas – San Antonio, and Texas A&M University – San Antonio, ensuring a pipeline of educated, professional school counselors. According to Pat, a high point of her career was the naming of an elementary school in Northside Independent School District the “Dr. Pat Henderson Elementary School.”

Pat was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her two children, Laurel and Matthew Hooper, and husband, Carl. She is also survived by her stepdaughter, Jennifer Simon, and her stepsons, Carl A., Aaron, and Thomas Henderson.

According to Pat, “The best things in my life are my kids: twins, Laurel and Matthew.” Laurel resides in Laguna Beach, California and Matthew recently left Fort Lauderdale and moved to Irving, Texas.

The love of Pat’s life was her devoted husband of 41 years and former NISD administrator, Carl Henderson, a pillar of support and longstanding adoration of Pat’s unique humor and lively banter. For the past 18 years, you could always find Pat and Carl cheering on the San Antonio Spurs from their seats in the Frost Bank Center, where she befriended everyone she came in contact with. Her animated and lively spirit will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Porter Loring Mortuary, 1101 McCullough Avenue in San Antonio, Texas. Viewing and visitation will be held from 11am-1pm, a service from 1pm-1:30pm, and a reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to one of the following:

Mount Holyoke College – [email protected]

Walnut Hills HS, Legacy of Excellence, 3250 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 4520 45207