Patricia Blean Oppenheim, affectionately known as Patt, died with her two loving daughters by her bedside on March 17 at the age of 96.
She was born in Ottawa, Illinois in 1925, and as an only child, grew up during the Great Depression. Her father fought in World War I, came home disabled and died young, leaving Patt to be raised by her mother and several adoring aunts. She attended Purdue University and after World War II, worked in Chicago for an investment firm.
Patt was an avid skier, meeting her future husband, Rudolf “Rudi” Oppenheim, an Austrian, on the slopes of Alta, Utah. Where Patt was shy, Rudi was outgoing, and they made an affectionate pair. They were married in 1958, first living in Hollywood, and eventually moving to Pacific Palisades in 1965. It was here where Patt and Rudi raised their two daughters and created a loving, caring home. Patt was a trained marriage and family counselor who loved opera and choir music, traveling, meeting new people and having adventures. Time with family was her greatest joy. She was philanthropic and did it quietly and with purpose, supporting causes such as Planned Parenthood, UCLA Foundation and Liberty Hill.
In her spare time, she enjoyed playing tennis with friends at the Rivera and paddle at the Bel-Air Bay Club. As Patt grew older, she became active at the St. Matthews Thrift Shop. This fit squarely with her core belief of recycle and live with less.
Patt is survived by her daughters Tina Quinn of Park City, Utah and Kym Williams of Lyme, New Hampshire, sons-in-law John and Mark, and five adoring granddaughters: Murphy, Amelia, Lauren, Sarah and Megan.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Planned Parenthood Los Angeles at supportpp-la.org.
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