Patricia A. Quade

Patricia Ann Quade (Riley), better known as Pat

Pat was born April 14, 1925 in Billings Montana. Her father, Glenn was in the bean business and her mother, Marie, was a housewife. Marie often said Pat was a "professional crawler." One day, while Marie was ironing, she answered a knock at the door; Pat was crawling around and put the cord in her mouth. She was nearly electrocuted and suffered a disfiguring injury to her upper lip. Many trips to the doctor were required. Eventually she underwent plastic surgery to repair her upper lip. She always said her injury was a blessing, as she learned to endure all of the teasing she received due to her disfigured lip.

The Riley family moved to Denver shortly after the accident where her father continued to sell beans. This was during the Great Depression. Pat can remember her parents patching holes in their burlap bean bags.

Pat began her education at the Parkhill Elementary School in Denver, but soon transferred to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School. Her father was having a hard time finding work, so the family moved to Oak Park, Illinois where he was later employed. Pat attended the St. Edmund School in Oak Park. The family moved back to Denver, and Pat attended Smiley Jr. High and East Denver High School graduating in the class of 1943. In 1940, her father had their house built on the corner of 2nd Ave. and Colorado Blvd.

Pat's summers were spent swimming at Sportland and as a counselor at the YMCA camp on Lookout Mountain. She attended the University of Denver graduating with a BA in 1948. She was member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority.

In 1946, she met her future husband, Omar, on a blind date, arranged by the Head Girl at East High School. It was love at first sight. Three years later, in 1949, they were married at her parent's house on Colorado Blvd. The wedding took place the day after Omar graduated from the University of Denver. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 12th 2009.

The early years of marriage were spent in the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, often with Omar spending summers in Alaska. After six years of service, he resigned from the military and they returned to Denver.

In 1956 they bought their home at 2904 S. Newton Street in Denver. They were the first family to move into their new house on Newton Street and last of the original owners to move out.

Pat gave birth to six children, two of which were stillborn. Her children are Phillip, Steven, who preceded her in death in 2004, Judy, and Suzan. The two girls were born while living in the house on Newton Street. She has four grandchildren, Jonathan, Erica, Sean and Thomas.

Pat's main job throughout the years was a housewife. She worked for a while for her father at his bean business. Then, she volunteered to oversee the 1876 Centennial docent guides for the Colorado Historical Museum. While volunteering at the museum, she learned about the Old Broadway School Teachers. Pat then portrayed an 1890 Denver school teacher. She was the first Broadway Teacher in the new museum. She later took this portrayal to the local schools for the elementary kids to enjoy a day in the life of an 1890's student. Pat enjoyed playing the role of an 1890's school teacher immensely. Pat later performed Augusta Tabor's life history. Augusta was Horace Tabor's first wife, who was asked to divorce him so he could pursue a much younger woman, Baby Doe Tabor. She wore vintage clothing and acted the part very well. She was an immediate success and was asked to perform at several parties and organizations. She also gave walking tours of the Capitol Hill District of Denver. These tours taught about the history of the buildings and the people who lived there.

She loved the great outdoors, mostly camping, canoeing, and exploring. She was Secretary of the Wally Byam Airstream Travel Club, President of the Ghost Town Club of Colorado, and the first lady Sheriff of the Denver Posse of the Westerners.

She passed from this life peacefully on Christmas Evening, with her family at her side.