About Patricia M. Sitar

“Pat was a good example of what one person can do,” says Anne Dammarell, Sitar Center Volunteer. Patricia Sitar was born in 1930 in Oklahoma. She always wanted to be an artist. She went to art school, married, and raised four daughters. In the early 1970’s, Pat started working with Jubilee Housing, a provider of subsidized housing for low-income families. Pat was drawn to the many children living in the Jubilee housing buildings and became increasingly concerned about their well being during the unsupervised after-school hours and summer days.

Pat’s concerns grew into a true-life call: in 1985, at the age of 55, she founded Good Shepherd Ministries and served as co-director with Barbara Moore for thirteen years. Naeem Hargrove, 16-year-old Sitar Center student, remembers Pat as “a lady who always welcomed you with open arms and a smile, a lady who never gave up on anything.” “The first time I saw Pat was when I was in Primary Plus when I was 6 or 7 years old,” says Craig Gatling, now 17 years old and a student at the Sitar Center. “We did a lot of activities with Pat: arts and crafts. She loved art and other cool things. We played games like Chinese Checkers. Pat taught me how to play that game.”

Pat was an active community leader, and lived in the Adams Morgan community. She became what she always wanted to be, a gifted visual artist, and taught art classes to both children and senior residents of the neighborhood. Pat’s talent and compassion sparked the vision for the Sitar Center, and she contributed daily to the Center’s success and growth as both a Board member and volunteer. “Most significant to me,” says Rhonda Buckley, Founder and Director of the Sitar Center, “was Pat’s incredible faith, spirit, and presence. My hope is that these qualities will be preserved at the Sitar Center so that the students and those visiting the Center will know Pat and the way that she loved and encouraged children when they walk in the door.”

“Pat was a great soul and her vision for children in Adams Morgan will live on in so many ways. It was a privilege to know her,” says friend Marjory Bankson. Joe Link, Sitar Center Music Director, speaks of Pat as a “kind, gentle, sweet person and a fantastic artist…One thing I will definitely miss is her big, wonderful smile.”

“Pat, we miss you a lot,” said Jonathan Sanchez, 10-year-old Sitar Center student. “We love you with all our hearts. We also like your drawings when you did the art class. Well, goodbye. We love you.”