John J. Patrick

John Joseph Patrick, 88, of Bloomington, IN passed away on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at his home after a short illness. John was born on April 14, 1935 to John W. Patrick and Elizabeth (Lazar) Patrick in East Chicago, IN. He spent the early years of his youth in Georgia, while his father was the football coach at Oglethorpe University and frequently recounted happy memories of his early childhood there. Upon moving back to East Chicago, he excelled in sports and academics alike, ultimately earning a football scholarship to Dartmouth College, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in history in 1957. He once again returned to East Chicago, working as a social studies teacher at Roosevelt High School and the University of Chicago’s Laboratory School. It was during this time that he met his wife, Patricia. They married in 1963, relocating to Bloomington, IN where John earned his Doctor of Education degree from Indiana University in 1969. This was the beginning of a long and fruitful career with IU, as John served as a Professor of Education there from 1969-2004 at which time he earned the title of Professor Emeritus. He also served as the director of the Social Studies Development Center and the ERIC Clearinghouse at IU from 1986 until his retirement in 2004. Other academic appointments included four years as an adjunct professor at Kansas State University after his retirement from Indiana University and serving as the scholar-in-residence at both the Center for the Constitution of James Madison in Montpelier, VA and at the Pedagogical Academy of the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A specialist in the history of the Founding period of the United States and the tenets of democracy, John was a principal participant of Democratic advancement projects throughout Western Europe, Latin America and East Asia, visiting and working in over 40 different countries during his career. He was considered one of the foremost scholars of citizenship education in the new democracies that emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union. Also a prolific author, John authored and co-authored dozens or texts, most notably his five-volume set “American Governance,” “The Supreme Court of the United States,” “Understanding Democracy”, “The Oxford Guide to the U.S. Government,” and “The Bill of Rights: A History in Documents” among many others. John was humbled to have received several accolades for his contributions to his profession, including the Founders Civic Education Award from the Indiana State Bar Association, the Bicentennial Leadership Award for Contributions to the Commemoration of the U.S. Constitution, the John W. Ryan Award for Distinguished Services in International Programs from Indiana University and the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the Governor of Indiana. While his family has always been proud of him for his many professional accomplishments, they will most remember him for his incredible storytelling, his generosity in caring for his loved ones, his willingness to share his wealth of knowledge on a large range of topics, his love of music and skills on accordion, being an avid bibliophile, his unbeatable jump shot on the basketball court and his unforgettable laugh, employed frequently and with abandon. John’s greatest joy was his family. He found much comfort and happiness in the occasions when they could all be together, made much easier recently with the relocation to the Midwest of both of his granddaughters. John is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia Patrick of Bloomington, daughter Rebecca Shipman (husband Chris) of Nashville, Indiana, daughter Barbara May (husband Jan) of Indianapolis, granddaughter Rachel Patrick (husband Matthew Boyles) of Bloomington, granddaughter Abigail May (fiancé Nicholas Badali) of Cincinnati, Ohio, sister Mary Kay Ragan (husband Jack) of Scottsdale, Arizona and several cousins, nephews and nieces. He was also grateful for the longtime friendship of Tom Tarzian, with whom he shared a brotherly bond. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Allen Funeral Home & Crematory in Bloomington. A Catholic funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, April 11 at 11am at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Bloomington, where John and his wife were longtime members of the congregation; Father Tom Kovatch will be the celebrant. Visitation will be from 10-11am at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s name to the scholarship fund at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Bloomington.

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John J. Patrick

April 14, 1935 - April 3, 2024