University of Minnesota Athletics
Former Gopher Patten Passes Away
11/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Nov. 29, 2011
George Patten, who competed in gymnastics for the University of Minnesota and was a long-time volunteer coach for the gymnastics program, passed away recently.
Patten was born June 1, 1924 in Minneapolis, to Mathilda and Nathaniel Patten. Preceding him in death were his parents, 3 sisters and 1 brother. He is survived by wife, Adele (Lee) Patten; son, Dan (Sue); daughters, Sarah (James) VanDePutte, Amy (John) Wells and Mara (Mike) Evans; 4 grandchildren, Justin and Andrea Patten and Abby and Maddy Evans; and sister, Dorothy Byrnes. Also step children, Jim (Diana) Endicott, Bill (Val) Endicott, Dee Horton, 7 step grandchildren, 6 step-great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Patten graduated from North High School and the University of Minnesota. While at North he was named All-City and All-State in Gymnastics. While at the U of M, (1947 and 1948) he placed second in the all-around at the Big Ten Championships and fourth in the National Tumbling Championship.
Patten served in the Navy and later taught math at Marshall University High School for 30 years until it closed in 1982. While at Marshall he also coached swimming, diving, and tennis. For the past eight years he has been tutoring elementary and high school students.
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