Harden, John Patterson, Jr.
Birth: Sunday, December 23, 1934 in Savannah, Georgia
Residence: California, Maryland
Death: Sunday, March 06, 2016 at the age of 81
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John Patterson Harden Jr., aka Pat, 81, of California, MD died peacefully on March 6, 2016 surrounded by his family and friends. Born December 23, 1934 in Savannah, GA, He is the son of the late John and Anna Gray Cart Harden. He attended Georgia Military College and graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University).

Pat's career span more than five decades, serving in the military, sports and Navy Morale, recreation and Welfare. In 1954, he joined the U.S. Army reserves and served on active duty in the U. S. Coast Guard. Pat took a hiatus of eight years from the employment of the federal government to join the Boston Patriots professional football organization from 1959 to 1961. He served as Head Basketball Coach at the College of Charleston, SC. Pat was named 1964 Coach of the Year, Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

He was honored to serve his country by working in distinguished U. S. Naval Moral Welfare and recreation positions for more than thirty-seven years. During his Navy civilian career, he traveled all over the world. Pat was honored by and was awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award and the Navy Distinguished Civilian Award.

Pat was elected as a Fellow of the Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration in 1986. He was a past trustee of the National Recreation and Parks Association; officer in the Armed Forces recreation Society; member, European Recreation Society; former chairperson, St. Mary's County Parks and recreation Advisory Board; member, Maryland State Parks Advisory Board; member Patuxent River Land Conservancy Board; visiting lecturer, University of South Africa, adjunct instructor, Frostburg State University, MD and University of Maryland., College Park and visiting lecturer at the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA. Pat was awarded the Executive Fellow award . He was honored by the society by having the John (Pat) Harden Practitioner Service Award named got him. Pat was named (legend).

Pat was a life member of the Episcopal Church serving on vestries and as a diocesan licensed layreader and preacher in South Carolina and Mississippi and the Episcopal Church of the Ascension of Lexington Park and was as adjunct member of St. George's Episcopal Church, Valley Lee. Pat also taught Sunday school. He was the facilitator of the Wildewood Senior Village Bible Fellowship. The rev. Chuck Daugherty foundered this Bible fellowship in 1987 and leadership was conveyed to Pat in 1996 when Chuck was physically unable to continue with his Christian ministry. Pat led the Bible study until his passing.

Pat was an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction, especially literature. He loved reading and writing poetry, short stories, homilies, altruistic papers concerning healthy recreation program outputs and personal, group/team cohesion and bonding and societal outcomes.

Pat is a published author of poetry, short stories and technical leisure science articles. He has been published in the Potomac review, Parks and Recreation Magazine, naval Proceedings, Social Science Review, Recreation Therapy Journal, Journal of Parks and Recreation Administration.

Pat's hobbies include classical music, especially performances of the St. Maries Musica and other local cultural and sports/athletic programs, hiking, bicycling, kayaking and gardening. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle, taking a great pleasure in the undertakings and accomplishments of his wife, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, his son John Patterson Harden, III predeceased Pat in death. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elizabeth McIlwain Harden (Betty), son Lewis McIlwain Harden (Joelle), his four grandchildren, Bryce, Isabelle, Addyson and Jace.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. George's Episcopal Church, 19167 Poplar Hill Lane, Valley Lee, MD 20692 celebrated by Reverend Greg Syler. Interment will be private. Memorial Contributions may be made to St. George's Episcopal Church, Post Office Box 30, Valley Lee, MD 20692. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD
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