OBITUARY: Former Brevard Teacher of the Year Marian Schese Patton Passes Away at Age 74

Marian led the development of year-round education in Brevard County

Marian joined the faculty of Gardendale Elementary School in 1986 and was instrumental in the foundation and flourishment of Gardendale Elementary as a county, state and Federally-acclaimed magnet school.

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Marian Sachse Patton, beloved wife, mom, grandma, and schoolteacher, passed away on June 15, 2021 in the city of her birth, Orlando. Marian was born on September 28, 1946 to Francis J. Sachse and Geraldine Fisher and grew up in Orlando, where she graduated from Edgewater High School in 1964.

Marian lived in Winter Park from 1966-1977 and then in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia until 1982 before then settling on Merritt Island 39 years ago.

While raising her two sons and supporting their pursuits both as a Scout Den Leader and as President of their school’s Parent Teacher Organization, Marian achieved a degree in elementary and early childhood education from the University of Central Florida.

Marian joined the faculty of Gardendale Elementary School in 1986 and was instrumental in the foundation and flourishment of Gardendale Elementary as a county, state and Federally-acclaimed magnet school.

Marian led the development of year-round education in Brevard County and shared that expertise with other school systems across Florida and the United States. Marian piloted Brevard County’s second-grade Junior Achievement program and championed multi-age education programs within the County.

She was a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Association for Multicultural Education, Phi Delta Kappa, and the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Marian was Teacher of the Year for Brevard County in 1989-90, and again in 2001-02, and went on to be a finalist for Florida Teacher of the Year in 2002.

She was recognized as an Outstanding Educator by the Kiwanis Club in 1995, and her singular accomplishments in the foundation and success of Gardendale Elementary Magnet School were the subject of a documentary by the George Lucas Educational Foundation.

Marian will be most fondly remembered, however, as teacher to her hundreds of beloved students, spanning 20 years at Gardendale, in whom she invested her fullest passion and dedication to their learning and their success.

Marian is survived by her loving husband of over 54 years, Gilbert, her two sons, Gil (Julie) and John, her three grandchildren, Rebecca, Reagan, and Max – by whom she’ll always be cherished for her love and enthusiasm in their learning and upbringing – and spaniel Squirt who was always by her side.

Marian’s family will be hosting a visitation in celebration of her life on Wednesday, June 30, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home on Merritt Island. Burial will be Thursday, July 1, at 1:30 p.m. at Palm Cemetery in Winter Park, with parking beforehand and a reception following at the University Club of Winter Park.

Marian was a fervent volunteer and contributor to the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science. If friends would like to continue Marian’s efforts on behalf of the Museum, donations may be made to the “Brevard Museum and Sciences Center” fund in care of the Brevard Museum at 2201 Michigan Ave, Cocoa, Florida 32926.

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