Mary "Pat" P. Spaulding

Mary Patricia Spaulding, independent graphic designer at Spaulding Graphics in Athol,
Massachusetts died June 13, 2023, at Life Care Center in Auburn, MA. She was 88.

Born in Hartford, Maine, the daughter of Herbert and Mildred Spaulding, Pat (as friends
called her) enlivened many a page, poster, and website with distinctive designs that played memorably and often with humor or whimsy on words and imagery.

She graduated from Athol High School in 1952 and then headed west by train to Phoenix College and then transferred to Art Center School in Los Angeles.

After art school, Pat spent a memorable eight months in Europe and got to know the Italian town of Ferrara very well after tearing an Achilles tendon and recovering there. Pat cherished a scrapbook full of memorabilia from the European trip which is now housed at the W.E.B. Dubois Library at the University of Massachusetts.

Pat first found creative employment with the advertising department at Crompton & Knowles in Worcester, Massachusetts, and then American Optical in Southbridge. After these corporate starts, Pat founded Spaulding Graphics in Athol, Massachusetts where her clients included L. S. Starrett Company Whipps, Inc., Red Apple Farm, Athol Table, and many others.

She designed the covers and provided illustrations for several local books and often presented friends with impeccably designed clever graphic creations.

For many years, Pat served on the board of directors of Athol Credit Union. She served energetically with class reunion committees, political campaign efforts, community projects, and more for many years.

Always athletic even in a day when custom limited girls' opportunities, Pat played basketball enthusiastically with high school chums (as she might say). She eventually excelled at golf, which she played often with friends at Athol's Ellinwood Country Club frequently travelling the links in her golf cart, the “Patty Wagon”.

She loved to garden and made excellent popovers.

She is predeceased by her siblings Hilda, Roger, and Seth and her longtime companion Brad Gibbs. She leaves behind her nieces and nephews, Steven Spaulding of Sugarland, TX; Robert Spaulding of North Falmouth, MA and Mark Spaulding of Sun City Center,FL; Martha Adams of Lutherville, MD, Beth Urch of Southern Shores, NC, and Seth Spaulding of West Hartford, CT. As well many dear friends local and around the country.

At Pat’s request there will be no service.

Donations may be made to the Activity Fund at Life Care Center of Auburn, the Athol Congregational Church, or to the Athol Historical Society.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, Douglas M. Stone, and Melissa A. McQuaid, Funeral Directors.