….Patricia Rayman was a practicing teacher of the arts for all ages. Born and educated on the East Coast, she was initially taught by working professionals from New York City. She is a graduate of the New Jersey School of Fine and Industrial Arts, New York Institute of Photography, and the Maryland Institute College of Art. Also, she has successfully completed countless continued education courses and programs in art academics and a host of art applications as well as writing and children’s literature.
After a summer teaching post ended where she worked with special children, Pat declined career opportunities to apply her creative skill as an illustrator for an eminent greeting card company on New York’s Madison Avenue as well as to remain and teach art education within her East Coast roots. Through a college friend, Margaret Harter, she learned of art teacher opening. She ventured to Delphos, a rural agricultural city located in the Northwestern central corridor of Ohio, and has taught at Franklin Elementary, Jefferson Middle and Landeck schools for over 32 years. However, her teaching was not limited to children, but all ages at various art organizations, including university art academics.
Patricia Rayman not only practiced what she taught, but realized years later her first two years in art school—and being taught by professionals—made the transition to education a success for her and for the children.” Additionally, she was showered with hundreds of awards for her own art and photography, including having her artworks published in several books.
Concurrently over the years, she has been selected as Big Sister of the Year for her involvement in a young girl’s life which allowed this child to bud from a thorny environment and blossom forward with noted local and national achievements. She was also selected Tri-County Woman-of-the-Year for her volunteerism and an undaunted willingness of providing encouragement: Art is ageless, not only to the young, but even among nursing home seniors.
Pat has been recognized by the Ohio Senate for her humanitarian contributions which goes back to her younger years working with emotionally and physically handicapped children. In addition, she also received an Outstanding Achievement in Education award as the founder of Art-to-Art: Building Friendships Through Art, (1986-2006) a national art-based education program which bridged the gap with the subjects of Geography, History, Reading, Writing, and Communications through Human Relations. The program peaked to over 400 schools in 42 states, having a potential awareness via print media exposed of 50 million. Her so-far life’s travels read like a Who’s Who list; in fact, she was included in Who’s Who In America in the past.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio City, OH Fire Department/EMS; Wassenberg Art Center, St. Rita’s/Mercy Health Spiritual Department, or a donor of your choice.
Special heartfelt gratitude for all their prayers to Father Joseph Varghese, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Father Kent Kaufman, St., Charles Catholic Church, Lima; Chaplin Scott Long, Independent Bible Church; Chaplin John Schleir, Chaplain Ben Neff, Churches of God, General Conference Rev. Chaska Yoder and Darrin Belousek, Mennonite; Elder Allen Juan and Sister Anna Myers, Kingdom Hall, and Chaplain Herb Wilker for their spiritual blessings, including special friends and family that visited Pat while awaiting.
