Remembering Pat Forsyth
Patricia Sue Forsyth, August 4, 1944 - May 12, 2022
Patricia Sue Forsyth, 77, of Gold Canyon, AZ, was born to Hazel Echo Thom and Warren Forsyth in Portland, Oregon on August 4th, 1944. She passed away at her home on May 12, 2022.
Pat Forsyth, Columbia Poodle Club
Pat grew up in Oregon along with her brother Tom. She earned a master’s degree, served in the Peace Corps, and worked for the Veterans Administration. She stayed in Oregon to be near her mom until she passed away at the age of 99. In June of 2021, Pat decided to move to sunny Arizona.
For many years Pat was the President of the Poodle Club of America Foundation for many years and through the years made many friends through the Poodle Club of America (PCA), and through her service to the Columbia Poodle Club.
She led the efforts to educate all Poodle owners about everything important about Poodles and to support Poodle research through grants and genetic material for finding solutions to poodle health issues.
Pat’s love of poodles shone throughout her life. She used to tell her mother, “Why do I need a man in my life when I have the great companionship of Poodles!”
Pat adored her Andretti (Am Ch Sauvie’s Island Sun CGC TKA) from her last breeding who lived with her in Arizona. Since Pat couldn’t walk very far, she gave Andretti and his friends rides around the neighborhood, barking at full speed ahead. Pat would do anything to keep her Poodles happy and healthy!
Pat’s earlier breeding of Standards produced Dante (Am Ch Sauvies Islander TP) often shown on Pat’s Sauvie Island website looking regal in front of a tall mirror. Dante was a top producer having sired over ten Am Champion Poodles. He kept Pat the best company for many years in the house built by her parents in Tigard, Oregon.
We Remember Pat:
From Jeff Nokes:
Our conversations at ringside were always the same— a general discussion of judging, then mutual admiration of the pets we were cuddling. Pat always had a lovely Standard Poodle pet or puppy with her contentedly sitting by her side while she scratched its ear. And I usually had the last Toy I’d shown…then a pause…a confession of a secret:
“You know, she’d say—I think I’d really like a Chihuahua…I think I could show that myself!”
Me: “Chihuahuas are the best!”
Pat would pet her Poodle, and I would hug mine. “Always a pleasure, Mr. Nokes!”
Me: (The conversation ended.) “Always a pleasure, Ms. Forsyth!”
From Johnny Shoemaker:
Pat was a brilliant woman who used her knowledge for the betterment of our breed. She will be deeply missed by all of us who knew her. Enjoy Heaven, Pat!
From Kim Bates:
Pat Forsyth, a dear friend for over 30 years. Pat was a mentor to many, dedicated to our breed, and was a gifted artist. She had a impact on any one lucky enough to know her, with a lovely sense of humor and of course a brilliant mind. Rest In Peace, dear friend.
From Jeff Smith:
Pat was not only a national leader in health research for Poodles, but she wrote a children’s book about Poodles, studied and loved birds, advocated for wild areas around Oregon, wrote many published (technical) articles, and bred beautiful Poodles.
But what I most remember: Pat as my good friend and neighbor. I remember her on my daily walks as she would drive by with a carload of her Poodles, Andretti barking most of the way, and Pat waving enthusiastically at me. Now, whenever I hear a car go by with barking dogs, I look for Pat, and miss seeing her in the driver’s seat. But whenever I hear the songbirds singing, I just have to look up and feel her presence all around me.
From Deb Phillips:
How do you single out a poignant memory….you don’t? You bundle them up, tie them in red ribbon, and place them in a corner of your heart already overflowing with respect and love. Pat Forsyth, Sauvie Island Poodles, left us too soon. My favorite memories of her: Pat doing what she loved best….health and breeding…taking buccal swabs of all the Poodle entries at the Columbia Poodle Club Specialty and Rose City was amazing. She treated each swab like an ingot of gold. At my Miniature poodle puppy party (eight weeks old), she whispered, “They are so active, glad I have Standards.” Miss you Pat; enjoy eternity with Dante.
Pat Forsythe and Rick Bates.
From Tom Carneal:
I only got to know Pat these past 20 years as we worked on the Poodle Club of America Foundation together. We usually talked once a week about birds, our dogs, and the issues with the Foundation. Pat was such a wealth of information and each visit was enlightening; together, we tried to make something out of the Foundation.
We attended the Purina conference in St Louis several years, listened to all the presentations, and then met and pooled our info so we could decide who might benefit from a grant, and which research project would best benefit our Poodles in all three varieties. We always had Pat’s birthday dinner at the Ruth Chris Steak House in the hotel, and usually had everyone in the room laughing along with us. What a delight she was!
If I ever needed information about a scientific fact, a grant proposal or a question from an inquiring person, Pat always knew where to research and find then answers.
How I miss our morning visits! A touching point I will always recall is when Pat moved to Arizona: she made friends with the wild quail in her neighborhood, and could call them in the morning; they would come to her yard for their treats.
What a caring and knowledgeable person we lost way too soon! Rest in Peace, my dear friend.
Donations: Pat’s family asks that donations be made to poodleclubofamericafoundation.org.
Credit to: Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery.
Submitted by: Jeff Smith, President, Columbia Poodle Club.
