Patricia "Pat" Hartle Salapka

Patricia "Pat" (Hartle) Salapka, 76, of Portland, Oregon, formerly of Rockville, Maryland, passed away too soon on Monday, February 26, 2024. She is survived by her beloved husband of 54 years, Michael, her daughter, Michelle and her husband, Bryan of Portland, Oregon, and her adored twin granddaughters, Ingrid and Marlene. Pat is predeceased by her parents, Martha and Norman.

Pat grew up in Sayreville, New Jersey, where she studied mechanical engineering at Fairleigh Dickinson University and fell in love and married Michael. Together, they moved to Rockville, Maryland and enjoyed 40 years building a large and loving network of friends. Pat used her impeccable organizational skills to serve as Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy. She was also the President of the American Diabetes Association of Washington, D.C., and later had her own business recruiting large vendors for trade shows.

Pat was an avid golfer and a voracious reader, enjoying a decades-long membership with the Woodley Gardens Book Club of Rockville. She and Michael enjoyed traveling, exploring broadly across the US, Canada, Europe, England, and Ireland, sometimes along with her dear departed mother, Martha.

In 2022, she and Michael moved to Portland, Oregon to be closer to their daughter and granddaughters, where she was a daily, loving fixture in their lives. Pat was known for her spunky and gregarious nature - befriending so many in her short time on earth. She especially connected with the women in her life, providing unique, loving support and guidance to so many.

A viewing will be held for family and friends on Thursday, March 7th at Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Funeral Home located at 6705 Southeast 14th Ave. in Portland, OR 97202 between the hours of 10am and 1pm. A Celebration of Life will follow on the same day for friends, family, and close acquaintances at Eastmoreland Golf Course located at 2425 SE Bybee Blvd. in Portland, OR 97202 between the hours of 2pm and 5pm.