Catherine Patricia, “Pat”, beloved mother and sister and a cherished educator and mentor passed away peacefully on September 18, 2026. Her life was marked by a profound dedication to teaching, and a passion for middle school education.
She was the loving, devoted and proud mother of her daughter Issa and was the sister of Lorraine Cramer and Richard Ress. Pat was also both an aunt and great aunt and is also survived by her nieces and nephews and their children.
Pat was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 7, 1943 to Louise and Henry Ress. Growing up she developed a love for painting, playing piano and reading. In high school she volunteered at the local orphanage and was chosen to model the class ring in her school’s yearbook.
She graduated from Queens College in New York City with a bachelor’s in English. She then went on to earn both her master’s in middle school curriculum and her doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Tech. She was a proud member of Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Kappa Gamma.
She began her career in education in New York teaching at Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Brigid’s and continued to be in the classroom when she and her family moved to Virginia. She taught at both St. Thomas Aquinas and Fred Lynn Middle School. In 1991 she became an Assistant Principal of Herbert J. Saunders Middle School and became Principal of Saunders in 1997. She became a leader and early advocate for the Virginia Schools to Watch program. In 2004 while principal, Saunders Middle School received its initial designation as a National School to Watch making it one of two in Virginia to be the first to achieve this recognition. In 2008 Pat became the first Associate Superintendent of Middle Schools in Prince William County, a position she would hold for the next five years until she retired in 2013.
Pat used her knowledge in the field of education to mentor many educators and administrators especially those just starting their careers. She went and spoke to both local and national policymakers on Capitol Hill and at the Department of Education about education and the importance of policies that would improve education in our country.
In her free time she loved to paint and crochet and enjoyed a good book and a glass of wine. She was a lifelong practicing Catholic and a member of St. Bede Parish in Williamsburg, Virginia at the time of her passing.
A service will be held at St. Bede Catholic Church, Williamsburg, Virginia in the near future. Please check back for future details.
