Happy Birthday to the late Patricia Ann Ravo who became one of the most important supporters of the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History

Patricia Ann Ravo, was born on November 1, 1956 in Annapolis, Maryland.  November 1, 2012 would've been her 56th birthday.  She was born hearing impaired (deaf) but through her determination and our encouragement, Patricia succeeded in a hearing person’s world by accomplishing many remarkable feats.

Patricia attended school in Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey and graduated from the Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Trenton, New Jersey.  Some of Patricia’s early accomplishments included being a Junior Lifeguard in Long Branch, New Jersey; received the New Jersey State Safe Driving Award; and excelled at Baton Twirling. 

(L-R) MLFH Executive Director Lori J. Durante with the parents of Patricia Ann Ravo,
Milla and Pat Ravo

Early in Patricia’s employment career, she became a trailblazer and excelled throughout her career in positions rare to be held by the hearing impaired.  She worked in data processing in a bank in Freehold, New Jersey.  Then she became the first deaf female to pass the examination for a Meter Reader in New Jersey which position she held until she moved to Florida in 1982.  Patricia was very independent and lived in Coral Springs, Florida.

After moving to Florida, Patricia attended college at Palm Beach Community College (now Palm Beach State College) where she studied art. She later transferred to Broward Community College and soon after learned that she had breast cancer. 

In Florida, she held professional clerical positions with major corporations such as American Express in Plantation, Florida; Pratt & Whitney in West Palm Beach, the Post Office in West Palm Beach, and, for several years she worked at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she became Deputy Clerk.

Some of Patricia’s hobbies included collecting money banks, cookie jars, vintage clothing, Norman Rockwell prints, the Flintstones and anything Simpson.  She was also a gifted artist, world traveler and gourmet cook.

Patricia was also a very courageous woman who fought a long hard battle with breast cancer, sadly, from which she passed away in December 2004. A few months before she passed away, Patricia said “Mom – if I pass away, I will always be with you, I will be over the rainbow.”

In 2002, when her cancer was stable,  Patricia visited an exhibit in Delray Beach that was organized and developed by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History (MLFH) entitled: Hats, Handbags & Gloves: from past to present.  That exhibit proudly featured my handbag-basket and a poem especially written by me about that purse.  Patricia never forgot the wonderful experience that our family had visiting the exhibit and she also knew that the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History was looking for a permanent home.  Patricia fondly talked about the day she visited the Museum’s exhibit, saying: “Lori Durante graciously gave us a tour of that exhibit and someday, let’s support that museum so that it can have a permanent home.” 

Even though Patricia has passed away, her dream of helping to support the Museum’s efforts for a permanent building is still being realized.  In year 2005, the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History was granted a $6,000 bequest from Patricia's estate that is recognized as The Patricia Ann Ravo Fund.  Since that time, annual bequeaths of various amounts from the Ravo Fund have been received by the museum totaling more than $14,000.

A permanent home for the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History was one of  Patricia's final wishes during her last days.    
 

Although the MLFH has been without a permanent home since 2005, this organization continues to bring cultural arts, entertainment and educational activity programs to several thousand people each year. Families and children, residents and tourists, schools and businesses, community clubs and social organizations--all continue to benefit from the rich offerings of MLFH.

Your financial support to MLFH will allow it to continue to grow, and most importantly, to reach our goal of building a permanent museum facility.  A permanent facility will allow this Museum to expand its hugely popular Taste History Culinary Tours program as well as host international exhibitions and dedicate a gallery to Patricia Ann Ravo. We still need your help to make it happen.

 

Click here to read more about Patricia Ann Ravo and view her photo on-line.

 

Click here to make a monetary donation on-line.  Donations can be made in any amount.

 

Check donations payable to the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History, in any amount, can be mailed to P.O. Box 6127, Delray Beach, FL 33482.

 

For more information, call: 561-243-2662