MILTON — A warm smile, a charming British accent and a generous disposition are just a few things that family, friends and acquaintances will remember about Patricia Anne (Pat) D’Asaro. D’Asaro died of natural causes Oct. 22. She was 77 years old.
D’Asaro was born July 27, 1939, in Sutton, England and she came to the United States to reside in Charlotte, N.C. Her upbringing reflects her family’s deep Catholic values. She attended Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia but earned her BS degree from the University of Miami where she participated in the sciences that would mold her future.
She was in laboratory work with noted geologist D. Cesare Emilia at the university when she met her husband, Dr. Charles D’Asaro, who was a doctoral student himself. They married May 4, 1963.
She and her husband moved to Pensacola after Charles took a job at the University of West Florida. While in Pensacola, Pat, a shortened name her friends coined, was active in church and civic affairs. Always a Catholic, Pat served in various positions there and eventually became administrative assistant to the Rev. Rene Gracia, bishop of the Pensacola-Tallahassee district. She also was involved with the University Women’s faculty Club.
In 1974 she and her husband, both of whom were environmental and historical activists, purchased the antebellum Thompson House in Bagdad, but it wasn’t until 1980 that they moved there after major restoration work.
Major among the projects she was associated with were the Santa Rosa Historical Society, Bagdad Village Preservation Association, Christmas Tours of Historic Homes, and various other groups. Gov. Lawton Chiles appointed her to serve on the Board of the Historic Preservation Grants Program.
She never forgot her roots and remained a British citizen. Her church was St. Rose of Lima in Milton.
Some of the groups that she was associated with included the Santa Rosa Art Association, The Navy League, Santa Rosa Clean Community System and Rails to Trails. In 1990, the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce declared her Woman of the Year.
D’Asaro is survived by her husband Charles, and two daughters, Deidre and Deborah Anne. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home, including visitation at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on Park Avenue in Milton.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: D'Asaro, community leader, dies