LifeSkills Staff

Educational Support

Pat Dockendorf
Family Liaison

Phyllis Churchill
Tutoring Volunteer

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Pat Dockendorf
Family Liaison

Pat is such an inspiration to all of us.  She came to CooperRiis to tutor for a few hours a day and now works 20 hours a week, and then some, in family communication and in transition support for residents. On top of this she also takes residents swimming and exploring colleges.

Pat just celebrated her 80th birthday.  She plays percussion in the Spartanburg Community Band and in the Rutherford Symphony Orchestra; she has also been spotted playing the accordion.  She swims competitively and does an annual swim across the Columbia River, from Washington to Oregon, in 1 mile of very cold water!!!  This past year she swam it with her daughter and looks forward to having her grandson join them as soon as he is 10 years old.

Married for 53 years to Bob they now reside at Tryon Estates in Columbus, NC.  They have 2 children and 6 grandchildren.

In her “former” life Pat was a mental health counselor and a college professor. Pat holds an MA Columbia University and MMH Johns Hopkins Medical School.


The CooperRiis LifeSkills Staff