Patty Stoll, the Fit Lady: Her face brightened my walks, my bike rides, my ski journies, but I will never again see her energetic smile
Friday, October 1, 2010 at 2:02PM 
This morning, I received an email from Otto, who I had sometimes met when he was walking or biking with Patty Stoll and I was out doing the same.
"Patty has lost her battle with cancer," he informed me. "...I know you will miss her dearly, as I do, she was such a positive in my life and I don't think anyone will be able to fill the void."
Despite the cancer that nearly a year-and-half ago her doctor had told her would kill her within two or three months, that there was no point treating it for it was hopeless and that she best prepare to die, the news came as a shock.
Patty did not heed that doctor, but fought, and gained much more life - high quality life - than he was willing to believe she could. "It just wouldn't be right," she explained me. "If I could not be here to enjoy this beautiful place."
When last I saw her, at the corner of Seldon and Wards, during one of my brief periods at home early in the summer, she looked good. She felt good and was looking forward to future years. I did not take a picture that visit or mention it in my blog.
It felt to me like one of those occasions when it was best to just visit and talk and not worry about documenting every thing and to not even bother with the subject of cancer.
I can't remember precisely when I first met Patty, but it was not long after we first moved to Wasilla some 28 years ago. I was out walking in the woods behind our house when she came walking in the opposite direction - young, blond, fit, energetic and friendly. We stopped and visited.
And so it was from then on - I would frequently meet Patty coming in the opposite direction as we walked, mountain biked and cross country skied. "We've got to stop meeting like this," she would say. Most often, we would stop and chat - although sometimes her bike was moving fast and mine was too and we would just shout, "hey...!"
That was really the only way I knew her. We did not get together at each other's homes, hang out, go to dinner - we just met, out on the trail. Yet that was enough to recognize and respect each other as friends, to see that we were people with many common interests.
And when they built the Serendipity subdivision and robbed us of the woods that we had so freely walked, skied and mountain biked through, we both mourned the loss of something so wonderful, just outside our doors.
We kept walking and biking, though, and kept meeting like this.
Once, she left for a summer to sail a boat up the east coast from the Caribbean to Canada.
I will keep walking and biking through this neighborhood. I will continue to enjoy it. But, just as I have felt the ache of loss of the woods to Serendipity each time that I have set out on a walk or bike ride in the past half-dozen years or so, I will now walk with a new ache, knowing that I will never again encounter the smiling and energetic face of Patty Stoll, the woman who I affectionately and admiringly called, The Fit Lady. She kept such good care of herself. Always ate right - got plenty of good exercise.
It was - 24 degrees (-31 c) when I took this picture in late December, 2008, but Patty didn't object. She loved it, she thrived in it.
Otto tells me her ashes will be scattered at Gold Chord Basin in Hatcher Pass.
After I learned the news, took a walk. I planned to take a photo of Patty's empty house, but when I reached it, people - family members - children and siblings - had just come out the door and were climbing into their cars.
I had never met any of them before. At left is her son, Willie, who she once so proudly told me was running in the New York Marathon even as we were talking, her daughter, Erin, the artsy one - the graphic designer and her son Erick, who describes himself as "the motor head" of the family. He loves to work with any kind of moving machine, be it a car, snowmachine, fourwheeler, boat motor...
From them, I learned that Patty had done well all summer, that her death Tuesday took everybody by surprise, for she had appeared fit and healthy just one week before.
"Cancer does not play fair," a sister said.
I then continued on my walk. Tequilla, the sweetheart dog who always feels that she must act tough, barked at me.
I saw a grader coming down Tamar. It is October 1 - see how the leaves here are mostly gone now? It was that big wind that was blowing when I left for Barrow one week ago that took them.
This is Bill, the driver of the grader. Hired through contract by the Borough, Bill was working to fix up the road and to prepare it for freeze-up, which should come soon. On clear days, the morning frost has been heavy for some time now.
Reader Comments (17)
I'm so very sorry for your loss, and the whole community's loss. Unbelievable that just last week she was doing ok. We will miss her on this blog and will say a prayer tonight for her family.
I was wondering just the other day how Patty was doing.
I do not have a Willie or an Erick, but I do have an Erin. Different name but my daughter, too, is artsy and a graphic designer and my sweetheart.
My condolences.
Alaska is a bit ahead of us in terms of autumn/winter. We have not yet had our first frost...but it will be soon now.
Poignant but beautiful post.
I'm so sorry to hear about The Fit Lady. I always looked forward to seeing her in this blog, getting updates on her condition, and being inspired by her spirit. Condolences to the family.
I'm sorry to read here of Patty's passing. She was a courageous woman, from what you've written of her in previous blog posts, and I'm sure your occasional chats brightened her days, Bill.
You've suffered some heart-bruising losses of friends this summer. Take care.
Blessings to Patty's family. We are lucky to have met her via your blog.
Thanks for introducing us to the fit lady. She was a brave woman, and her story deserved its telling. How glad I am that she met someone who had the capability to tell it. Good job, Bill.
I'm so sad to hear of Patty's passing. When I first read her story on your blog it reminded me so much of my step-mom's story. The story of a strong and healthy woman who is stricken with cancer. My step-mom was also told there was no hope and that doctors could do nothing.... two to three months they said. She lasted exactly 18 months. My thoughts go out to Patty's family. May they eventually find peace.
It was a lovely post and tribute to her Bill.
Thanks for introducing Patty and telling her story from the paths you two shared, I admired her......Hatcher Pass will have a special resident.
i remember her well from your Blog....i'm so sorry to hear that she past, what an inspiring life she led
Oh Bill. So sorry to hear of the Fit Lady's passing. Do you know how much you bring to our lives by your beautiful writing about the wonderful people you encounter? You bring sanity to my life daily.
what a great send-off you gave patty, whom i remember well. / you're way ahead of us pennsylvanians in the coming-of-winter department. i'm about to photograph a tree for my next blogpost which is about a spectacular human being i met at a garage sale. yes, i brake for garage sales.
I'm sorry for your loss Bill. I will say a prayer for her family and friends to help them during this difficult time. Thank you for introducing us to her through your blog.
Please tell Patty's family I am thinking of them and know their pain. They are right, cancer doesnt fight fair. One yr ago my dad was diagnosed with cancer. In July I flew back to CO to be with him as he was ill, but they said he was in remission. Sept.24th we learned the cancer was back and he had weeks to live. I was supposed to fly back to CO Oct.9th to be with him. This morning, Oct.2, my dad also lost his battle with cancer and so tomorrow morning I board a plane from Anchorage to CO to say goodbye to the man that helped me bring into this world and was the best father a girl could ask for. Cancer sucks and I hate it with every ounce of my being.
Hey Bill - your "Road to Kanai" post has an error. But you are on the road to Kanai, so you probably don't know yet!!
I will miss "The Fit Lady.." .. RIP.. Sorry for your loss Mr Hess..
So glad that you too recognized patti's rare beauty and quality of character and you took the time to share her passing with us in word. I was the lucky one who patti chose to work with after she returned from her sailing trip. She may have formally retired from teaching, but she was willing to share so much of herself and her life experiences with me. I will always be in her debt. I got a call from my accountant yesterday and she said," that patti had a paycheck that hadn't cleared the bank yet". It made me realize that she kept on living right up until she wasn't anymore. Thanks for giving me a format to share my feeling for her in. -Becky