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Patsy Garlan ’48

August 14, 2025, in San Rafael, California, of natural causes.

Patricia Wallace Garlan grew up in Santa Barbara, California. She graduated from Reed in 1948, married Professor Edwin Garlan [philosophy 1946–73], and had four children: David, Judy, Robert, and Sarah. Her thesis, “A Critical Analysis of the Works of Karl Jay Shapiro,” was written with advising by Professor Victor L.O. Chittick [literature 1921-48].

In 1963, Patsy moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lived the rest of her life. Her career included 10 years at the Langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute and the UCSF Laboratory for the Study of Human Interaction and Conflict (and 22 years at KQED in program development as director of foundation and government granting).

Working for the public good, Patsy helped create and fund organizations offering drug abuse treatment (Marin Open House), services to the mentally ill (Marin Lodge), services to single mothers (Single Mothers of Marin), and women’s education (College of Marin Re-entry Program). A prolific writer, she also published poetry, essays, and short stories in The Atlantic, Dartmouth Medicine, and Reed Magazine (other works include a novel, college texts, and books for children like 1967’s Orange-Robed Boy). 

Patsy had a lifelong interest in musical theater, dating back to the Gilbert and Sullivan productions she participated in at Reed. Later in life, she served as a writer, project director, board member at the Festival Theater in Marin County, and a consultant to the California State Department of Education, developing the drama curriculum framework for the California public schools.

Following her retirement, Patsy wrote the book and lyrics for Wings of Fire, a musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan. Wings was given a fully staged production at the College of Marin, and Patsy received the Playwrights’ Award from the Marin Arts Council. In retirement, she took courses in music and traveled to her small cottage in Anchor Bay, Mendocino County, with her longtime partner, Nancy Gillis. Patsy is survived by Nancy and four children.

Appeared in Reed magazine: Fall 2026

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