Patricia Elaine Pierson

surgery. Born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma on September 5, 1952, Patti, as she was known as a young

girl loved rescuing animals and climbing trees on her cousins’ farm. Although money was tight

in the family, her parents Warren and Geraldine, managed to get her into dance lessons and it

is there where Patti found her natural talent for movement. The family relocated from

Oklahoma to California when Patti was 13 and she quickly found her way back to a dance

studio. Being a California girl came easy to Patti who was down to earth and a beach lover.

While a student at San Jose State University she met her husband, Scott. As a dancer with the

San Jose State Marching Band, Pat caught Scott’s eye for her bright smile and beautiful blue

eyes. After only three months of dating, they were engaged and then wed when she was only

20 years old. Their love of music and dance allowed them to work together for many years. First

at Lynbrook High School where they taught the National Champions Valkyries Drill Team and

then at the Santa Clara Vanguard where Pat choreographed the iconic Bottle Dance. Later, she

became the choreographer for the San Jose State Spectrums, the Spartan Marching Band’s

dance ensemble. Pat’s greatest career achievement was co-founding the Dance Department at

Independence High School in 1981. It was here where Ms. P, as she was lovingly called,

touched hundreds of young people’s lives by offering them a safe space to express themselves

and providing quality dance instruction to many first-time dancers. Many of her students are

still professional performers and credit her with seeing something special in them and

encouraging them to pursue their passions. Pat left Independence in 1999 to obtain a MA in

Special Education from Santa Clara University. She spent the last years of her teaching career at

Foothill High School, a continuation high school for at-risk students. Pat retired from teaching in

2014. Her retirement was spent in her beautiful garden with her pets, spending time with her

granddaughters, marching in support of her favorite causes and traveling with Scott. Pat

especially loved hiking in the forest and walking on the beaches of California and she will be felt

in these places forever by her husband of 48 years and best friend Scott, and their children

Trisha (Seth) and Randy. Her granddaughters Katheryne and Layne Kelly will hear stories about

her love of nature and will sing Beatles songs at the top of their lungs in the car, just as their

grandma did. She is predeceased by her father Warren, mother Gerri, and sister Diana.

We ask that in lieu of flowers you consider planting a tree in Pat’s honor in a National Park at

www.alivingtribute.org .