In Memoriam

Patricia A. Thorpe
1948-2026

COOPERSTOWN—Patricia A. Thorpe, 78, of Cooperstown, New York, passed away peacefully at home on August 31, 2026 after a long illness. Born on June 17, 1948 in Red Bank, New Jersey to Dr. John and Natalie Thorpe, Pat was a writer, gardener, nature lover, wife, mother, grandmother, and treasured sibling whose energy, intellect, and creativity shaped every chapter of her life.

The second of four children, she wrote her first work, an autobiography titled “Second Edition,” while in the second grade. It was the last time she or anyone else would put her in second place. She went on to become the Red Bank Catholic High School girls’ track team number one state champion high jumper and half-miler. Her team was groundbreaking as the first girl’s track team in New Jersey.

Pat attended Newton College of the Sacred Heart, now Boston College, where she majored in English and graduated in 1970. She remained in the Boston area, holding a variety of jobs before deciding to pursue a more fitting career path in New York City. She finally found that path as a copy editor at “Esquire Magazine,” where she made lifelong friendships with accomplished writers including Pam McCarthy, Katha Pollitt and Nora Ephron.

It was in Manhattan that Pat met her husband-to-be, Harold Stults Jr., and they married in November 1978. She decided to leave writing for the time being to follow another passion of hers: flowers. She was able to set up her business on the ground floor of the brownstone where they lived on the Upper West Side. Foxgloves, as it was called, provided custom flower arranging, plant care and even Christmas tree setups to customers all over Manhattan. Her slim physique belied her strength, which was needed for this demanding work.

Seeking respite from city life, Pat and Harry purchased a farm in upstate New York, where Pat devoted herself to gardening. Before long, she found a way to unite her passions for writing, flowers and gardening. Returning to her roots as an author, she eventually published four books and became a sought-after lecturer and workshop leader throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Many in Cooperstown will remember her workshops on drying flowers, crafting wreaths and sharing the joys of gardening.

Several years after the birth of their son, Sam, Pat and Harry found their Upstate New York hearts’ desire on Estli Avenue in Cooperstown, where the family took up permanent residence. Their house, known as Heathcote, became the center of family gatherings, holiday celebrations, and summer visits for relatives and friends from near and far. Pat delighted in bringing people together and was the driving force behind countless family reunions and cherished traditions. The home’s historic garden, lovingly restored by Pat, was a source of pride and beauty for all who visited. Heathcote also served as the setting for her younger sister Marianna’s wedding, an occasion Pat orchestrated with her characteristic grace and attention to detail.

After Harry’s death in 2011 and Sam’s departure for Cornell University, Heathcote became more than Pat wished to maintain alone. She moved to a smaller home just outside Cooperstown, where she remained until her death. She loved Cooperstown—its close-knit community, its arts and music, St. Mary’s Church where she was a cantor and sang in the choir, and the many wonderful friends and neighbors. Pat will be remembered for her creativity, generosity, love of family and ability to bring beauty into the lives of others, whether through her writing, her gardens, her flowers, her music or the welcoming homes she created throughout her life. Her legacy endures in the family and friends she cherished and in the countless people she inspired.

Pat is survived by her son, Sam Stults (wife Casey), grandson Wesley, sisters Barbara Cartee and Marianna Spain (husband William), brother John Thorpe (wife Renee) and niece and nephew Ariel and Evan Thorpe, and Evan’s wife, Kathy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 23, 2026, with Fr. Michael Cambi, pastor, presiding. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Oneonta, NY 13820, helioscare.org; or Susquehanna SPCA, PO Box 267, Cooperstown, NY 13326, sqspca.org/support.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.