Mr. Patton

Charles F. Patton, a longtime teacher and administrator in whose honor Unionville's middle school is named, died on Saturday, and former students, colleagues and friends have been sharing fond memories of him and how he shaped their lives (and their bridge games). I saw the news on Saturday evening on Facebook while eating ice cream at Landhope and said to my companion, "Oh, Mr. Patton died!" The people at the next table, complete strangers, overheard and said, "Yeah, I heard that!" They didn't need to ask who Mr. Patton was, or which Mr. Patton; in Unionville, there was only one. My sympathy goes out to his family.