With profound sadness and deep respect for her life and
work, we announce the passing of Patricia Hardin, AFA president, who died
peacefully at her home on Thursday, August 2, 2007. Preceded in death by
her husband and parents, she is survived by sons and daughters,
grandsons and one granddaughter.
A graduate of the University of
Tennessee, Patricia was a teacher and supervisor with Knoxville City.
Patricia directed the first Head Start program in Knoxville, and supervised
the Knoxville City school system’s nursery schools. She was a member of the
Episcopal Church of the Ascension and the Association for Research and
Enlightenment.
She was a Life Professional Member of AFA and a long-time
board member. I particularly remember her kindness as Hostess for several
conventions. She had the knack for making new members and attendees feel
just as welcome as the old timers, and she managed and organized conferences
with grace and optimism. She was a peaceful locus in the midst of a
whirlwind of activity.
In addition to her AFA activities, she also founded the Astrological Association of East Tennessee and was a supporter of Kepler College.
Patricia wrote a book:
Astrology: A Common
Sense Approach,
The Question Box column in Today’s Astrologer,
and
numerous articles that can be found there or on the Internet.
She very much
enjoyed working with her astrology students, often one-on-one. Patricia
began her astrological career studying with a friend. She also delved into esoteric astrology, Vedic astrology, and other topics that caught her
interest.
I am sure this breadth of interest contributed to her teaching
and is reflected in the loyalty of her students. Quoted in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal at the time Pluto was removed from its planetary status by astronomers, Patricia pointed out that “Pluto is an
active factor in astrological charts, whether or not we call it a
planet.”
