Patricia Potts

Patti Potts, a longtime Napa resident, lost her fight with Stage 4 Brain Cancer on Sunday, 01.24.2021. Patti was surrounded by her family in her home. She was 74 and will always be fondly remembered for her love of the Valley, a great glass of Sauvignon Blanc, her calling as an RN and bringing people together to celebrate. 

Patti was born in 1946 and grew up in Cambridge, Ohio. She attended Mt. Carmel and graduated from the College of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio. This is the city where she met and fell in love with Don Potts. Don attended the Ohio State University and for their entire life together they shared a passion for all things Buckeyes including Football and the OSU fight song.  

Patti had an adventurous spirit and loved being an RN. Her husband was a military man - a member of the United States Air Force. She had two amazing children - Brett & Suzi Potts. She loved the life of a military family filled with friends, laughter, travel and never a dull moment. The Potts family traversed the country with memorable assignments in Alaska and ultimately put down roots here in Northern California.

Napa is a special place for Patti & Don Potts as it is the longest they have lived anywhere over their 50 years of marriage. Patti made a difference in her community through the Napa Valley Tobacco Abatement Program and through teaching Kaiser Permanente’s Smoking Cessation classes. She truly loved living and giving back to the Valley. She appreciated the beauty, the change of seasons, the hot air balloons out her window, and the annual BottleRock Festivals. Patti loved music - Michael Franti and Bob Marley are among her most adored. She loved being in close proximity to San Francisco as she was a mom to many of Suzi and Brett's friends - earning the moniker of "Momma Potts." 

The Potts family is small in number, but strong in heart. Patti is survived by her husband Don Potts, children Brett (Danielle) Potts and Suzi Potts (Matt Albers), granddaughter Ava Potts, in-laws Linda & Bill Kreidler and her nieces - Wendy Oliver, JJ Koch, and Lori Riehl. 

The role she loved more than being a mom was being a grandmother to Ava Potts - whom she taught to be fearless and always said that she loved her to the moon and back.

We know that Patti is at peace - because she had lived life to the fullest and was so loved. We will miss her beyond words, but know she is watching out for all of us making sure we keep doing the right things: exercising, eating well, treating others with compassion, traveling and having FUN!

If you would like to remember Patti Potts - please make a donation to Dr. Butowski’s lab at UCSF. Through Dr. Butowski’s efforts Patti’s family was able to make the most out of her last five years after her initial brain cancer diagnosis. Under his care, she defied every record and standard. She truly beat all the odds and never gave up on her family, friends or life.

Donate to UCSF Brain Cancer Lab: http://bit.ly/pattipotts

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