Capt. John “Jack” Patterson, U.S.C.G., Ret., passed away on March 24, 2012 in Olympia, Wash. He was 72 years old.

Jack was born on May 1, 1939, in Wyandotte, Mich. He attended the United States Coast Guard Academy (class of 1961) in New London, Conn. After a long and distinguished career as a Coast Guard officer, he retired in 1984. Jack’s most recent job was teaching a Coast Guard captain’s licensing course for the Maritime Institute out of San Diego, Calif. He also loved spending time with family and friends on his boat “Discovery.” Jack had lived in Oak Harbor since 2008.

He is survived by his wife, Sheri Blessing, of Oak Harbor; daughter Amy Cartmill, of Portland, Ore.; son Col. Chris Patterson, of McGuire AFB, N.J., son Bruce Patterson, of Portland, Ore., sister Penny Thomas, of Chicago; and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at Whidbey Presbyterian Church in Oak Harbor.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the “USCGA Alumni Association” at 47 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT 06320 or www.cgaalumni.org in Jack’s memory.