Obituary of Patricia Ann Graves

Patricia Ann GRAVES passed away on January 12, 2019 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT.  Pat was born on April 2, 1937 in Dresden, Ohio to the late Orin and Mary (Ripple) Graves.  She was predeceased by her brother Roger Graves and her sisters Betty Lauvray and Barbara Slate.

Pat had a distinguished thirty year career with the Town of Manchester CT Police Department.   She joined the Department in 1966 and has many “firsts” to her credit with that Department – first Policewoman (May 1966), first Youth Services Officer (May 1972), first female Sergeant (December 1974), and first female Lieutenant (February 1979).  She was also the first female officer from the New England States to attend the FBI National Academy (1975 - 102nd Session). She retired on June 1, 1996.

Her contributions to the Manchester community were extensive. In 1978, she was a founding member, and later Chairperson, of Manchester’s Child Advocacy Team (one of the first inter-disciplinary child abuse teams in Connecticut).  She was a founding member of the Manchester Community Services Council and served as its president in 1981/1982. She was a founding member of Manchester’s Shelter Care Committee, its Drug Advisory Council, and its Group Home Committee. Her service to the community was recognized by the Manchester Bar Association which awarded her its Liberty  Bell Award (two more firsts as she was the first woman and first police officer so honored); by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce;, by the Manchester Emblem Club; and by B’nai B’rith.

She is survived by her sister Nancy Galvani; her close friend Barbara West; and her much-loved niece Becky Slate (Dresden OH) and nephews Christopher Delancey (Walworth NY), Craig Delancey (Fairport NY), Timothy Lauvray (Hilton Head NC), Thomas Lauvray (Dresden OH), Richard Slate (Dresden OH), Jamie Slate (Dresden OH), and Jonathan Slate (Dresden OH).

Friends may call at John Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St, Manchester, Ct. on Saturday

January 19th from 10:30am to 12:00pm.  A Memorial Service will be held in Dresden, Ohio in the Spring.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Manchester Police Athletics League, 239 East Middle Tpke, Manchester, CT. 06045.