Patricia Griswold, SNJM

Patricia Grisword was born and grew up in Seattle, Washington. She attended Holy Names Academy, graduating in 1952, part of a select group that HNA calls 12-year grads, students who attended the Academy all 12 years of their elementary and secondary education.

After two years at Seattle University, Patricia entered the Novitiate of Sisters of the Holy Names at Marylhurst, Oregon, in July 1954. The following February, she was accepted as a novice and received her religious name, Sister M. Ruth Ellen. She pronounced temporary vows in August 1956, making final vows in August 1961.

In summer 1959, she completed a Bachelor of English from Marylhurst College. Her long career as an educator began at the secondary level, teaching in several SNJM high schools in Oregon including Sacred Heart Academy, Salem, and St. Mary’s High School, Medford; and in Washington, at Holy Names Academy, Spokane, and her alma mater, Holy Names Academy, Seattle.

Sister Patricia continued her post-baccalaureate education earning a master of arts in English in 1970 and a master of arts in philosophy in 1977, both degrees being conferred by Gonzaga University, Spokane. 

In 1972, Sister Patricia joined the faculty of St. Thomas Seminary and College, Kenmore, Washington. The next year she assumed the role of Academic Dean where she remained until the school’s closure in 1977. The next three years, she was a member of the faculty of Fort Wright College, Spokane, serving as Dean of Students.

In 1980 Sister Patricia relocated to California. From 1980 to 1984 she was a doctoral student and teaching assistant at the University of California, Riverside, completing her Ph.D. in Philosophy.

In the twenty years that followed Sister Patricia taught philosophy and some English at various colleges in Washington state, including Seattle University, Central Washington (Lynnwood campus), and Green River, Edmonds, and North Seattle Community Colleges.

Now enjoying her retirement, Sister Patricia lives in Seattle, Washington. We congratulate Sister Patricia on her 70 years of religious profession and wish her joy in her Jubilee year.