Patricia “Pat” Serritella
Classmate, Pat Serritella came to CHS from Calumet High School in Chicago, Il. It was Pat who suggested the winning name for our annual, "The Calumet, which was voted on by the student body. The highly decorative, ceremonial peace pipe was a familiar iconic item coming from the region in which she grew up, but it seemed particularly appropriate for adoption by the Clairemont High School Chieftains. It could be said the calumet symbolizes the coming together of two groups of students from widely separated high schools to create a single spirit of unity and comradeship.
Pat was a member of The Arrow staff, and Future Teachers of America. After graduation Pat married a young marine, Ron Smith, with whom she had two girls, Leslie and Melanie, now married and living in San Diego and Eugene, OR. Melanie has two children. Pat was widowed when her youngest child was 2 and remained a single mom for several years but eventually remarried a Navy doctor, Peter Hebert in Ashland, OR where she ran a consignment shop for a number of years. Her husband later opened a private practice in Corpus Christi, TX and then Chandler, AZ. where Pat became a published author of romance novels under the pen name, Patricia Chandler. She died in Chandler, AZ, 2-17-95, from complications of diabetes which she had been diagnosed with at age 18.
Pat also leaves behind 4 siblings, Matthew Serritella, CHS Class of '61, and Susan Seritella, both of San Diego, Christopher Seritella of Carlsbad, CA and Eileen Seritella of Livermore, CA.
I Remember:
If you have a memory of Pat Serritella that you would like to share with our classmates, please email the Webmaster.
Please do not forget to include your name at the time of graduation and the year you graduated.
