Local artist and long-time Boothbay Harbor summer resident Patricia Ryan Zolper, 90, died March 30, 2020 at the Country House retirement community in Greenville, Delaware.

Pat’s passions included her family, art, early childhood development, her Catholic faith, reading and crossword puzzles. She was part of a generation of women who pioneered balancing career and family. Her achievements included raising five sons, serving in management positions in a pre-school and a hospital, and heading up multiple non-profit efforts through the years. She was a landscape painter who exhibited in Delaware and Maine and an ardent supporter of the arts. However, Pat always considered her greatest joy and accomplishment was raising her children.

She also was beloved and admired by a wide circle of people, from the staff where she kenneled her dog, to a young artist she mentored, to her 15 grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. She was smart, strong, and social. She once knocked on the door of a stranger, a widow, to introduce herself; Pat had read about the woman and thought they could be good friends.

Born in Wilmington in 1929, Pat was graduated from Wilmington Friends School and Vassar College (1951). She started the Childhood Development Club at Vassar, which continues to this day. After graduation, she began working at Dupont, and met William Benjamin Zolper of Wilmington. They were married in 1953.

While managing a large family and household in Glen Rock, New Jersey, Pat received her master’s degree in learning disabilities from William Paterson College of New Jersey in 1978, and also earned a certificate to teach art K-12. Once her children were in school, she rejoined the workforce as the director of Friends Preschool in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and then as director of volunteer services at Chilton Memorial Hospital in Pompton, New Jersey. She also served in numerous volunteer positions, including board president of Family Counseling of Ridgewood, and director of art division for the Junior League of Bergen County. Pat also started an extracurricular arts program in the Glen Rock school system.

After she and Ben retired, they moved back to Wilmington in 1989. Pat became a docent at the Delaware Arts Museum and also joined and began painting with the Studio Group. She continued these activities nearly all her life. Ben died in 2014.

Throughout their marriage, Pat and Ben vacationed with their boys in Boothbay Harbor where they ultimately built a summer house in the Appalachee Village Association. They lived in the house during the warmer months for over 25 years. Both that home and a second, “Pondside,” along with sailing in PatZ II and other Maine adventures have become the source of many happy memories for three generations of Zolpers. Pat and Ben attended Our Lady Queen of Peace. Pat was active in the local arts community.

Pat’s life also was filled with dogs, her most recent a little fluffy white Maltese ironically named Zeus. His exuberant spirit brought her joy and comfort.

Pat is survived by her five sons: Ben (Sharon, three children, four grandchildren), of Beverly, Massachusetts, Tom (one child and partner Alexandra) of Baltimore, Maryland, Peter (Johanna, three children), of Fairfax Station, Virginia; John (Betsy, three children) of Vienna, Virginia; and Andy (Linda, five children) of St. Petersburg, Florida. John Abramo, Pat’s companion of four years at Country House, helped care for Pat when she became critically ill. John will miss her dearly, as will her whole family.

When the state’s stay-at-home order has been lifted, Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anne’s in honor of Pat’s life. For those inclined, the family suggests donations in lieu of flowers can be made at any time to the Ministry of Caring, 506 N. Church St., Wilmington, DE 19801-4812.