Lasting Memories

Patricia Ann Batchelder
March 9, 1954-Feb. 9, 2019
Snowmass, Colorado

Patricia Ann (Patsy) Batchelder of Old Snowmass, Colorado, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2019 after a 2 year bout with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) courageously making the best of every day. Patsy was born to William Batchelder and Jeanette Curry Batchelder on March 9, 1954 in San Francisco (Pacifica), California. In 1959, the family moved from Pacifica to Woodside where she competed in swimming and gymnastics, and graduated from Woodside High School in 1972. Thereafter, she attended UC Santa Barbara and graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1976 with a degree in psychology. Summers were spent in Yosemite Valley hiking, climbing and working.

Upon graduation from college, Patsy spent 7 months traveling in Europe and Israel before moving to Ketchum, Idaho in 1977. In Ketchum, she worked for Sun Valley Magazine and Names & Numbers phone directory. She was also a very active volunteer in numerous conservation and environmental causes, including the Snake River Alliance and Idaho Conservation League. In 1993, she met her husband, Andy Wiessner, and moved to Denver, and then Vail and Snowmass, Colorado, where she worked in advertising sales and for the non-profit Sopris Foundation. During her Colorado years, she served on the non-profit Boards of Aspen Tree and the Sonoran Institute and did extensive volunteer work for the Aspen Valley Land Trust, Eagle County Citizens for Open Space, Eagle and Pitkin County Democrats, High Country News, and was also an advocate for Response. She was an avid outdoor enthusiast who particularly enjoyed backpacking, trail running, river trips, the ocean, swimming and skiing. Patsy will be remembered by many for her warmth, radiant smile, boundless energy and enthusiasm for hosting events to raise funds to protect the environment.

Patsy is survived by her sister, Mary Ruth Batchelder, her brother, Christian Batchelder, her step-mother, Bobbi Batchelder, and step-sister Joni Cropper all from here in the Bay Area, step-brother Harley Parson of Boise Idaho, her husband, Andy Wiessner of Snowmass Colorado and her two step children, Mia Weissner Olney and Angus Wiessner of Denver Colorado.