Pat Kiovsky, May 2003

by Bob Townsend

     Pat, born in Kentucky, remembers visiting her Grandmother's farm, picking berries, and making jams and jellies.  Her folks were tobacco farmers, and when that industry grew unproductive, the family immigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio.  They lived in Switzerland for three years, painting and traveling, then moved to Pennsylvania, and on to Massachusetts, where Pat worked for many years and raised her two children.

     A nurse by trade, Pat had a heartfelt desire to garden, flowers being her passion.  Joining the Harvard, Mass., Garden Club, Pat achieved one goal, but her busy life kept her from staying in the club or being able to grow her garden.  Fourteen years ago, Pat met Joe Kiovsky, they married and set out on a course of travel and work that, after Saskatoon and Miami, brought them to Laramie in August 2001.

     Pat retired from her profession after successfully holding demanding, rewarding, and challenging positions.  Throughout her career, Pat was never able to raise her dream garden.  Pat joined the Laramie Garden Club last spring and, as the picture shows, jumped in immediately, helping to clean winter's remnants from the community garden at the Laramie Plains Museum.  A dedicated member of Laramie, Pat not only helps with the gardens, but also serves as a docent on Saturdays inside the museum.

     This year, when the club held its election, Pat Kiovsky became the club's 25th president.  When I asked Pat her most important presidential duty, her response was quick and clear:  "Organization and promotion of the garden club, raising awareness."  Pat considers her most daunting challenge to be meeting the community's needs:  appealing to a diverse community, making the club for everybody, and making it accessible to everyone.

     Pat wants to attract members from every walk of life, "Making the community more aware of what the club is, letting people know the skills and knowledge the members possess and their willingness to share it."

     Pat claims not to be a gardener.  Yet, deep purple violets astound the eye between her kitchen and dining room.  Geraniums, big and blooming, park by the patio windows in the family room.  Other windows in her home also host flora that flourish in the light.  Her flower beds outside were awakening to spring's call, filled with flowers Pat bought at last year's Laramie Garden Club Plant Sale.  Pat's only limitation to being the gardener she wants to be is her schedule.  Cookies made their 8-minute visit to the oven after her careful dollops of dough were cuddled on the cookie sheet, all for a children's group Pat will help with Friday.  Pat also volunteers with a local family planning group and is active with other local groups.

     Pat Kiovsky is an organizer, a worker, a community heroine.  She serves a host of community organizations, helping folks, from youngsters to oldsters, does it all so unselfishly and always with her big, friendly smile.