Rockford institution and father figure to many leaves legacy of goodwill

Of Glenn Patterson's three sons and one daughter, it is his daughter, Coffey Wright, who is his "twin."

So much so, as a child, Wright said her brothers would call her "Glennella" or "Glennvina."

"They would try to make me mad by calling me his twin, and it worked," she said.

As much as Wright despised being compared to her father when she was younger, as an adult she knows it is one the best compliments anyone could give her.

Glenn Patterson, nothing short of a Rockford institution, died Sunday.

He was 67.

Wright said, "He was very strict. A little controlling, but so wise, so kind, so loving and caring and giving. Anything good that you can think of to say, that was who he was."

More:From football to futures for Rockford kids at Blackhawk Courts

'His dream job'

Patterson grew up without a father in Rockford's Blackhawk Courts housing development.

Thanks to mentors like Jim Flodin, who headed the Blackhawk Boys and Girls Club for years, and teachers and coaches at East High School and a desire to make something of his life, Patterson earned a bachelor's and two master's degrees leading to a nearly a 30-year career as a physical education teacher, coach, school administrator and mentor and father figure to hundreds of youths in Rockford and Madison, Wisconsin.

Over the years, many of those youths found a seat at table for holiday dinners at the Patterson's home, a seat in the family minivan for vacations, and most importantly, they found Patterson to be someone they could to talk to about their life struggles and successes.

Just two years ago, Patterson was plucked out of retirement to head the Blackhawk Boys and Girls Club, the very organization that was so vital in helping to fill a void in his life.

Patterson's wife of 48 years, Mary, called it "his dream job."

What would Mr. P. want?

Gwen Lashock is a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club. She said she got to witness Patterson's passion for children on a regular basis.

She recalled going with him, other volunteers and the children to Rockford University where the kids participated in a theater workshop and a science workshop. They also took the children to musicals at Rock Valley College's Starlight Theatre.

"He wanted the kids to experience what it would be like to go on to college," she said.

Monday, counselors met with the staff and students at the Boys & Girls Club to help them cope with the sudden loss of their mentor and friend.

Lashock said, "At the end of all of it, it was so cute. They said to the children, 'What would Mr. P want from you?' And it was, 'To be kind. To be helpful and most of all, get an education.'

"I was like, wow! For little kids to say that, that was pretty cool."

Role modeling at work and home

Former Rockford resident and Blackhawk Boys and Girls Club member Eric Williams is curator of religion at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture. He was one of many to express his shock and condolences to the family via Facebook.

Reached earlier this week at his home in Washington D.C., Williams called Patterson "an encourager of boys and young men."

"He took time with young people, which was very unusual," he said. "Sure, people speak to children, but he would try to engage you. Your perspective really mattered to him. He always pointed us in a forward kind of motion."

Williams considered himself fortunate to see Patterson at work at the Boys & Girls Club, and to see him at play as they both lived in the same neighborhood.

"You would see him exercising and playing with his children," Williams said. "He was a very strong proponent of family. He was a very busy person but he made time for his children and other people's children as well."

Paying it forward

Sue Salvi Buckwalter is the daughter of East High School's former longtime track coach Dan Salvi Sr., a member of the Illinois Track Coaches Hall of Fame.

She said Patterson always made it a point to tell her father before he died and then her and her brother, Dan Salvi Jr., just how much of an impact their father had on his life.

Buckwalter said, "Glenn never failed to thank the people who mentored him to be the person that he was. He so respected the teachers and coaches of East High, and he never failed to say how much he appreciated my dad."

Buckwalter, who was a grade below Patterson when they both attended East High School, said Patterson lived his life full circle as he was able pay forward to others what her father, Flodin and other mentors had given to him.

"To see now what he has done, his legacy for other youth," Buckwalter said its wonderful "that people are now thanking him for the gift of goodness and mentoring that he provided."

Patterson is survived by his wife, Mary; his children, Cory Patterson, Kevin Patterson, Coffey (Justin) Wright, and Clint Patterson and grandchildren, siblings and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, at Forest City Church, 1280 S. Alpine Road, and again from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the church. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Forest City Church.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford mentor, father figure Glenn Patterson gave what he received