Eric Edwin Patterson, age 82, passed away peacefully with family at his bedside on December 7, 2025. Eric was born on September 4, 1943, to Tech Sergeant Harold Russell Patterson and Ona Mae (Clark) Patterson in Beardstown, Illinois. He graduated from Herscher High School, IL, in 1961 and went on to obtain a B.A. in chemistry from Southern Illinois University and an M.S. in education from Eastern Illinois University. He began his career as a synthetic organic chemist and worked as a biochemistry technologist and STAT lab supervisor at the University of Illinois Hospital Laboratories, where he met his wife, Nora (Pleviak) Patterson. His true passion was education. He taught at Taos High School from 1971-1975 and finished his teaching career at Hoffman Estates High School in Illinois in 2001. In 2005, he returned to a place that he always loved, northern New Mexico. Eric will be remembered for his curious and supportive nature, his love of people, and his commitment to his community. He was a devoted family man, educator, environmentalist, and gardener. As a teacher, he sponsored multiple student organizations and worked to provide opportunities for students to grow as individuals. He joined the Sierra Club in 1971 and helped revitalize the Northwest Suburban Cook County Group. One of his proudest accomplishments was founding the Water Sentinels Rio de Taos in 2006 to monitor water quality in the Taos area, a program that has since expanded to the whole state of New Mexico. In 2016, the Sierra Club recognized Eric with the National Special Service Award for his ongoing commitment to the environment. Anyone who knew Eric quickly learned of his passion for growing organic food in "downtown Valdez." He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nora, his first wife, Shirley (McConkey) Macias, three sons: Jason (Tara), Tad (Kelly), and Eric (Catherine); four grandchildren: Caitlin, Alyssa, Ryan, and Carolyn; and one great-granddaughter, Cameron. He is also survived by three sisters: Patsy Leadingham, Terry Olsen, and Kim Spohrer, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother Mark. Eric's love, wit, kindness, and compassion will be greatly missed.

Private memorial services will be conducted in January. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eric's name to Amigos Bravos in Taos https://www.amigosbravos.org. Notes of sympathy can be made online at https://tinyurl.com/EricPatterson.