Patty Looman

Dear Family,

Words cannot adequately describe Patty's wonderful, generous, personality. She shared her love of traditional music and taught many of us how to play the lap and hammered dulcimers. Our lives have been enriched through her gift of music and the fellowship gained jamming with others. I'm sure she is in Heaven playing her dulcimer along with the angels and their harps. It has been a privilege to have known her. We will miss her, but remember her with much love.

Fondly,
Judy and Randy

Patty was an amazing person who changed my way of understanding old time music. Her giving spirit and willingness to share all she knew has been a wonderful example to me. I am so glad I was able to spend time making music with her.

I was a dulcimer colleague and great fan of Patty. She inspired all she met! I loved spending time with her at festivals, hearing her play and also hearing from so many of her students how much they enjoyed her teaching! She will be greatly missed in the dulcimer community.

Patty was a great gift. She carried with her a lot of knowledge of the old music, and a lot of love for it and a gracious willingness to share it. She taught here a few times at the Upper Potomac Dulcimer Fest, and everyone loved her. We know that we don't own this earthly existence, we only rent it. But we are very grateful Patty got to walk among us for a good while. She will be missed, and she will always be remembered, and remembered with a smile.

I'm so sorry for the loss of a wonderful woman. I never had the chance to meet her but heard a lot about her and her musical talents. My condolences go out to her whole family and to her wonderful brother, Joe Looman.
She will be playing beautiful music in Heaven!!!

My deepest sympathy,

Brenda Butler

Patty was a wonderful person who was more than a friend to us but instead a part of our family. She influenced my life in a way that no one else has. She touched so many people and had so much love to give to everyone she met. She was a unique woman who always had a positive attitude and a love for keeping "Old Time Music" alive. Words can't express what she did for so many and how much love she had to give. Although she will be missed her impact will continue from all the people she touched and the legacy that is carrying on.

Patty was a wonderful person and teacher. She was my drama teacher at Waterford Kettering High School in Waterford, MI. She made such an impact on her students, helping them grow and opening up the wonderful world of drama to each of us. She will never be forgotten. My sympathies to the family, but I do feel a part of that family as I loved her very much.

Sandy Swain Dennis

Miss Looman was a wonderful teacher and inspiration. As a Speech Teacher, she drew out the inner lion of the most introverted students. She would use humor, music and her genuine love of others to inspire them to do the very best they could. Although she was extremely patient, she was no push-over. I saw some pretty "tough" students have a "come to Patty" moment that would make the most obnoxious student left muttering, "Yes ma'am". Many of these students would become some of the more involved and talented in the class. Miss Looman guided our production of "Of Mice and Men" to the state finals of the Michigan Forensics Competition in 1978. I first heard of Pattyfest in 2009 and learned more about Miss Looman than I had ever known before.

You are thought of often and fondly, and you will be greatly missed.

With Great Respect,

Dr. David Ray

Miss Looman was a wonderful teacher and inspiration. As a Speech Teacher, she drew out the inner lion of the most introverted students. She would use humor, music and her genuine love of others to inspire them to do the very best they could. Although she was extremely patient, she was no push-over. I saw some pretty "tough" students have a "come to Patty" moment that would make the most obnoxious student left muttering, "Yes ma'am". Many of these students would become some of the more involved and talented in the class. Miss Looman guided our production of "Of Mice and Men" to the state finals of the Michigan Forensics Competition in 1978. I first heard of Pattyfest in 2009 and learned more about Miss Looman than I had ever known before.

You are thought of often and fondly, and you will be greatly missed.

With Great Respect,

Dr. David Ray

Miss Looman was my Debate & Forensics coach and Drama Director at Waterford Kettering High School from 1976 thru 1978. She was instrumental in developing my attempts to perform in plays and to coaching the Debate team to a league championship in 1978. She was the most caring and nurturing teacher that I ever had the pleasure of being with and her passing does nothing but bring back memories of her goodness and her masterful ability to play the dulcimer.She will forever be in my heart and I know that she's playing a song in heaven as I type this. God hold you and keep you in the palm of his hand forever.

Love ya,
Mike

Miss Looman was my drama teacher at Waterford-Kettering High School and shared her love of the theatre with me, having taught me many things. My condolences to the family. Please know, she made a difference in the lives of so many people.

Miss Looman was not only my teacher, and drama coach but she was also my friend. Though I have not seen her since graduation, memories of her and her words of wisdom are never far from my mind. I remember quite well when her mother would come to visit and tell us story after story about her haunted house; never could quite convince Miss Looman to let us visit there as a field trip though it wasn't for lack of trying.
I remember going to the state finals of the Michigan Forensics Competition for Mice and Men; she was happy and proud of us for getting there. Not for herself, for she was one of the most unselfish people I have known, no, she was truly happy for us and proud of us.
Her words, written by her in each of my yearbooks, have been read by me over and over again. She was a wonderful, warm and loving person; one who, you the family, and us her friends can be very proud to claim as family and friend.
It was a privilege to have known her and be taught by her; I will also remember her fondly, forever in my heart.
My deepest sympathies to you upon the loss of this wonderful member of your family,

Darlene

Dear Family and Friends,

I cannot think of a single person, outside my family, who had a more profound affect on my life as I passed through those tough adolescent years while in high school. She was always full of encouragement while we worked on all those plays. She made me feel empowered, as I know she did for every student who had the pleasure of having her for a teacher and drama coach. The world has lost a precious soul. So get a few scripts ready for us, Miss Looman. The show must go on.

Patty Looman was a wonderful teacher for whom I had great respect during my high school years at Waterford Township High School. I was fortunate to have spoken to her several years ago after finding out about her involvement at The Augusta in Elkins which I have attended on and off for the last 15 or so years. She was a wonderful musician who contributed so much to mountain arts. I know that she influenced the lives of many of Michigan high school students as well as her dulcimer students in West Virginia. Her memory will go on in her music. Please accept my sincere condolences.

Patty Looman hired me as her protege when I was fresh out of college. I was full of big ideas, but nobody really learns how to teach in a university. My first classroom had a door connected to hers, and I used it several times daily. Patty was my first and only mentor. Every new teacher should be so lucky as to have someone with her wisdom and grace to shepherd them through the trial by fire that is the first year in the classroom. That was forty years ago (next month). In August I will begin my final year as a drama teacher. Thank you for my career, Patty.

Patty was the most important teacher, and one of the most important people, in my young life in Michigan, circa 1960. I love the remark made by Dr. Ray above that she drew out the "inner lion" in her drama and speech students. She helped me discover my inner life and is the reason I became a drama teacher myself.

WE KNEW PATTY MANY YEARS THROUGH OUR LOVE OF DULCIMERS, HER LEADERSHIP
OF THE DULCIMER CLUB WAS SO INSPIRING. SHE ALWAYS COULD THINGS WITH HER MUSIC THAT NO ONE COULD. WE'LL MISS PATTY AND TREASURE ALL OF OUR MEMORIES
OF HER. GOD BLESS!

We were so saddened to hear of Patty Looman's passing. Ray and I were LUCKY to have had Miss Looman for Speech Class at Waterford Twp. H.S. in 1952. She brought out all the good in everybody. She took all her classes to an Italian restaurant for dinner and taught us all proper dinner etiquette.

We were so saddened to hear of Patty Looman's passing. Ray and I were LUCKY to have had Miss Looman for Speech Class at Waterford Twp. H.S. in 1952. She brought out all the good in everybody. She took all her classes to an Italian restaurant for dinner and taught us all proper dinner etiquette. Waterford Twp. H.S. Class of 1954

Patty Looman was my inspiration for college and really the decision maker for my long career
in education. At now 89 years old, I recognize I was a student in her first teaching assignment and followed her and
her career with the dulcimer. There are not many people like Patty Looman. She was the very best!

Bless this WONDERFUL woman, that touched SO MANY lives. I had her for Drama Club at Waterford Kettering high school, in the late 1960s. She was a kind, caring person, with a multitude of talents. She was expressive & taught us, how to be expressive. She brought the "real person", out of those that were on the shy side. She had so much to share, & did so with enthusiasm. She was devoted to her students & her craft. Heaven just got someone mangnificent! I have no doubt, that she & John Slade, already, are "selecting their cast" for a great production. AND...."hobknobbing" with all the famous great directors & actors they are excited to finally meet. John loved & respected that lady. Now...."On with the show!"