Patricia Palmer Aptaker
On Monday, August 5, 2024, Patricia (Pat) Palmer Aptaker passed away, after a long illness.
Pat was born December 8, 1947 in Monessen, Pennsylvania to Dr. Ralph E. Palmer Jr. and Helen Palmer. As a child, she grew up with two older brothers and a younger sister.
Pat was a 1965 graduate of Monessen High School. She earned a B.A. from Mansfield State University and did her graduate work at Penn State University Commonwealth, majoring in English.
She started her first successful career in advertising in Atlanta and later as an executive with Wells, Rich, Greene in New York City, managing accounts for airlines including Delta, American and Braniff.
She met her husband (Evan Aptaker) when they were both bumped off the same flight from Dallas to NY in the late 1970’s. She later took a job as an account executive with Bozell & Jacobs in Dallas, where, as fate would have it, Evan Aptaker lived. Pat and Evan married on April 19, 1984, sealing their story-book romance.
In the early 1980’s Pat and her husband launched a small optical frame importing company (Nouveau Eyewear) in their garage in 1985, which they grew into a major international firm, operating on four continents. Under their leadership, the firm became a major supplier to North American chains such as Costco, Walmart and Lens crafters. Nouveau was also a principal supplier to Specsavers which had the largest market share of all optical outlets in Britian. Nouveau made its mark by becoming a licensee of brands such as Geoffrey Beene, SpongeBob, Christly Brinkley, Wrangler, and Kawasaki.
After selling the company in 2006, Pat and her husband moved to Santa Barbara to be nearer to her grandchildren.
In Santa Barbara, Pat directed her time and efforts with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) which enabled her to actively help foster children navigate through the court system. She was tireless in this 10-year effort starting in 2008 where she made remarkably positive impacts on the lives of numerous foster children. She also was a supporter of various philanthropic and service organizations such as Planned Parenthood.
In her spare time, she enjoyed painting, playing the piano, visiting art galleries, and international travel. She and her husband traveled to 40 countries in 40 years of marriage. Their favorite country was Spain.
Pat and her husband celebrated their 40-year wonderful odyssey on May 4, 2024 at Birnam Wood Country Club with a large turnout of dear friends and family.
She is survived by her husband Evan, sister Susan, brother Ralph III (Rick), son Bob, grandchildren (Emily, Grant and Devan), sister in-law Sharon, niece Jenni, and nephew Andy.
The funeral and memorial celebration were private and took place on Aug. 19 – 20 via McDermott-Crockett Mortuary, with interment at Santa Barbara Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in her honor at the non-profit www.sbcasa.org.