Patricia Ann (Thomas) Cain

Patricia (Patt) Cain of Bernalillo, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of April 1, 2022. A hard fall at home caused a severe brain injury, from which she did not recover.

Born on November 24, 1943, to Ruth and Jack Thomas in Boise, Idaho, Patt spent most of her childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi. After graduating from the local High School in 1961, she went on to study at Mississippi State College for Women, and then at Purdue University, where Patt earned a Masters in biochemistry and met George Cain, her husband of 54 years.

Patt and George then worked for two years at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. There Patt gave birth to their first son, Adam. Soon after, they relocated to Iowa City, Iowa, her home for 30 years, and where their second son, Aaron, was born.

After working as a research scientist, she returned to school to get a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning. Patt worked in the city planning office for several years before going on to work in the University of Iowa’s Office of Sponsored Programs and eventually becoming Director of Development and Corporate Foundation Relations.

Later, Patt was recruited by the University of Georgia to establish an office of corporate and foundation relations there. After two years in Athens, Patt accepted the position of Senior Vice President for Development at the Scripps Foundation for Medicine and Science in La Jolla, CA. From there it was back East again to work in corporate and foundation relations at the University of Tennessee.

In 2006, Patt and George moved to Placitas, New Mexico, where Patt worked in development for the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center. She retired a few years later, but remained involved with her community, volunteering for several organizations including the Placitas Artists Series and Jardineros de Placitas.

Patt brought inspiring drive and devotion both to her work and private life. She will always be remembered for being a loving and supportive wife and mother, and for being a committed and loyal friend. She loved music, dancing, Southwestern pottery, her two small dogs, travel, and most of all the company of family and friends.

Patt was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Ruth Thomas and her sister Betty Woody. She is survived by her husband George, sons Adam and Aaron, daughters-in-law Jennifer Ruef and Joanna Blendulf, grandsons Kristofer Meyer-Ruef and Adrian Cain-Ruef, and extended family members, including nieces and nephews Beth Woody Varner, Judy Woody Silas, and Joe Woody.

A celebration of life for Patt Cain will be held at the Placitas Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 21, at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to The Nature Conservancy.