PATRICIA ‘PATTY’ DRAGE HALLAM

MIDDLEBURY — Patricia Drage Hallam passed away April 19, 2026, at home in Middlebury, Vt., surrounded by loving family and friends. Patty was born April 29, 1949, in Elyria, Ohio, to Lester E. Drage and Mary (Sederis) Drage.

Patty was a 1967 graduate of Elyria High School in Ohio, attended Central Michigan University, and graduated from Fanny Allen School of Practical Nursing. A life-long learner, Patty later took classes at both Trinity and Woodbury Colleges. Frustrated with her very first college experience, Patty and a close friend left school to hitchhike across Europe. Patty especially loved visiting Ireland, England and Scotland.

After returning to the states, she worked as a ride-operator at an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. After that she moved to Vermont to take up the life of a ski bum, working at both The Lodge and Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.

One day in Dec. 1970, while trying to hitch a ride to the mountain, Patty was picked up by a fellow ski bum, David Hallam. She didn’t know it then but she’d just met the absolute love of her life. That winter, Patty and David spent many nights listening to records in Patty’s small apartment above the Trapp Family Tea House, they danced at the Rusty Nail, and skied. Patty, always the adventurer, said yes to being a governess to two small boys living in Austria. While she pined for David, she also enjoyed the boys and the delicious Austrian pastries. Unable to bear Patty’s absence, David called her in Austria to propose. Patty not only said yes but said that she’d already bought an early plane ticket home, ending her role as governess because she missed him too. The two were married on March 4, 1972. This was the start of 54 beautiful, love-filled years together.

To know Patty was to be embraced by a deep spirit of optimism, love and joy. Her welcoming smile and beautiful blue eyes were captivating. Patty loved to sing and we always knew when she was happy because she would be singing all throughout the house.

She spent her whole life helping others. Volunteer service was an important part of Patty’s life and she walked-the-talk. She worked as an aide at Green Mountain Nursing Home and then as an LPN in the newborn nursery at UVMMC. Once their three children came along, David devoted himself to his family and his work while Patty devoted herself to her family and many, many hours volunteering. While living in South Burlington and Middlebury, Patty volunteered with the Visiting Nurse Association, The Lund Family Center, Refugee Resettlement, Green Mountain Prevention Projects, Habitat for Humanity, UNICEF, Spirit-in-Nature, Shelburne Farms, Meals on Wheels, Vermont Respite House, Heifer International, Head Start Program, Helen Porter Nursing Home, and as an ESL tutor, just to name a few.

Patty also was co-founder of the Henriette Katuka Memorial Fund, raising over $100k with the help of The Woods Tea Company to feed and provide medicine to orphans in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Learning so much from her volunteer roles, and finding such purpose there, Patty felt that high school students would also benefit immensely by volunteering in their community. In 1997, she started the Volunteers in Action office at South Burlington High School connecting students with volunteer opportunities.

Most significantly, Patty worked with the Champlain Valley and Addison County CROPWALK committees for 31 years as recruitment chair and co-chair respectively. After she and David moved to Middlebury in 2006, Patty joined the Hospice Wellspring Singers. Combining her love of singing and of helping others, singing to patients at their bedside brought her immense joy.

Patty enjoyed many active years running, skiing, hiking and bicycling. She and her beloved sister, Leslie went on many guided and self-supported bicycling adventures. She also saw the Beatles live twice and had aspirations of marrying Paul, but life took her in a different direction.

Patty leaves behind her husband, the love of her life, David Hallam. She also leaves behind her daughter Aubrey (Gavin) Boyles of Montpelier, Vt., son Tyler of Great Barrington, Mass., and daughter Kim of Ashburn, Va.; and sister Leslie (Gary) Goodman of Elyria, Ohio. She also leaves behind her loving grandchildren, Liam and Thea Boyles of Montpelier, Vt.

Patty’s family would like to thank Patty’s Posse, Dr. Laura Weylman, Dr. Zail Berry, Addison County Home Health & Hospice, and all the friends that enriched her life beyond measure. Patty died at home, at the age of 76, from complications related to Lewy Body and Parkinson’s diseases.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.

A celebration of Patty’s life will be held Saturday, May 30, at 11 a.m., at the Congregational Church of Middlebury, Middlebury, Vt. All are welcome.

Arrangements by Miller & Ketcham of Brandon.◊