In Memory: Amy Paterson MFA ’18

Amy Paterson MFA ’18 died Nov. 6, 2018, at age 46, surrounded by her family at home. Born in Cambridge, Mass., her family settled in Beaverton, Ore., where she graduated high school. She attended Connecticut College where she met her future husband, Justin, in a theater production when they were cast in a play together. After graduating college, she returned to Portland, Ore., to work at Portland Opera before beginning a lifelong career in relations at LANE PR, where she served as the vice president, helping grow the firm from four employees to more than 30.

During those years she also worked for nonprofit causes, including co-chairing Taste of the Nation, a culinary event that raises money to fight hunger. Justin eventually joined her in Portland and the two were married in May 1998, and celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this past spring. They raised one child together. 

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and the following year was filled with more than 144 medical appointments all the while trying to raise a toddler. She co-founded My Little Waiting Room, a nonprofit that provides free child care to families at Providence St. Vincent and Providence Portland hospitals, for which she was honored by L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth Awards, Points of Light Tribute Awards, Avon's Hello Tomorrow Fund, Kids II Pink Power Mom, and Portland Monthly magazine's Light a Fire Awards. In 2012 her breast cancer returned, and she retired from LANE PR but remained on its advisory board.

She later attended Pacific’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program where she cultivated her passion for writing poetry, essays and nonfiction. More than anything, she loved being a mom. She is survived by her husband, Justin; son, Jonah; parents, Ann and John Moore; sister, Pam; and an extended family.