Term: 2006 to 2007
Photo by Jeannette Michelson
Past President Pat Doyle epitomizes the qualities of her Norwegian heritage: humility, respect and simplicity. These traits along with a myriad background of life experiences made Pat a perfect leader of The Garden Club of Long Beach Island.
Having been born and raised in Brooklyn, Pat attended secretarial school along with taking some coursework in the evenings at Hunter College. Pat then worked for several companies in that profession for many years, even taking on a short-term job working in England. Pat’s diligence enabled her to move up to executive secretarial positions until she was recruited to be a travel consultant for the sales reps within the company.
Pat met her husband Dick on a blind date; and once they married, the couple lived for a short while in New York, then in Maryland, followed by Medford, NJ. Having a small home on LBI, Dick and Pat had close ties to the island and would visit often. Being “water” people who enjoyed boating and fishing, they eventually moved and built a new home on the bay. Ultimately it became their permanent home in the High Bar Harbor area. This new home allowed them access to many water activities including fishing and boating. Pat claims that she was never squeamish about baiting a hook!
Like many new, year-round residents of the island, Pat searched for things to do and ways to meet people. Pat and Dick enjoyed landscaping and gardening around their home. So when Pat heard about The Garden Club from Grace Byrne, she decided to join despite the two year waiting list at that time. Then in 2000 as a member, Pat involved herself in many activities such as chairing houses for the house tour, working at the Edith Duff Gwinn Gardens, and co-chairing the Yearbook Committee and the June luncheon. She then became President. Pat looks back on her year as President as a time where she encouraged women of the club who lived on different ends of the island to mingle and work together more. Pat talks very warmly of the wonderful people she has met being part of The Garden Club and how happy she is to have them as friends.
Besides her work for The Garden Club, Pat is prominent in community affairs as she is an officer in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Company and an officer in the Kiwanis Club of LBI. Also, once a scuba diver and skier, Pat now pursues other hobbies including cooking, reading, and knitting lovely items for her many family members.
In closing, it is not surprising that this past President also holds a special membership status: “Honorary Member” . This is a special class conferred for exceptional service to the club. It is with these qualities in mind that The Garden Club of LBI celebrates the past accomplishments of President Pat Doyle.