Proud Alumna leaves legacy for future students

Centenary College made a lifelong impact on Patricia Verlander Guittard, Class of 1970. Pat was an active participant in campus life from the moment she arrived, becoming a member of Phi Beta, a national professional fraternity for women interested in speech, drama or music dedicated to maintaining the highest of professional standards. Pat was also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and the Centenary College Choir. While at Centenary, Pat performed with the Choir at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

Pat proudly displayed her love for music not only with the Centenary Choir but also during the Miss Centenary pageants, where she played piano during the talent portion of the competition. For her senior recital at Centenary, she played Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”.

The first to graduate from college in her immediate family, Pat was thankful for her high school counselor who convinced her to apply to Centenary and helped her apply for financial aid. Upon graduation, Pat went on to receive her master's degree in education from the University of Texas. She had a highly successful teaching career, specializing in teaching children with learning disabilities and head-injuries, and teaching music at Westbury Methodist Pre-School in Houston. Her great passions in addition to teaching included caring for her family and rescue animals.

One of Pat’s proudest moments was watching her son, Steven Moffatt, graduate from Centenary College

in 1998. Pat and her husband, Charles, have been strong supporters of Centenary College including supporting the A.C. “Cheesy” Voran Choir Director Endowed Professorship, Centenary scholarship fund, Choir, and the Women’s Endowment Quorum.

Sadly, Pat passed away this past year from an incurable form of dementia but was cheerful to the end. She was so proud of her children and grandchildren and relished her continued association with Centenary. In 2016, she and Charles established the Patricia Verlander Guittard ’70 and Steven Oliver Moffatt ’98 Endowed Scholarship to help provide scholarship assistance to students who qualify for need-based aid. Pat will be remembered as a "Blithe, endearing and hysterical spirit; Funniest, bravest, and dearest wife and fiend; Most wonderful mother, or Mumz".