The endurance community lost a huge icon and legend on January 21. Pat Jones Oliva has passed away. She will be missed by so many near and far. Pat rode her last endurance ride at Foxcatcher in April 2017 earning her and Pepper the coveted Century Club recognition. Though she did not compete after that, she has NEVER stopped riding, and stayed connected to the endurance family by volunteering at several rides in the past few years.
Pat earned over 22,200 miles in endurance, earned the Decade Team award in 2003 with Pepper, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. When I think of Pat many words come to mind:
She had the most POSITIVE outlook on life (no matter what hardship was sent her way)
She had an infectious SMILE and LAUGH!
A wonderful ZEST for life and endless DETERMINATION
She was FIERCELY INDEPENDENT (to a fault... LOL)
Extremely OPINIONATED....LOL!
FAITHFUL and LOYAL to all who knew her
MENTOR to so many of us
Pat will be missed by so many of us!!!!
There will be a celebration of life in a month or so. Info will be posted when available
by Diane Connolly
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