GARDINER – Patricia “Patti” Carol Bourgoin died unexpectedly April 9, 2008, of natural causes at home. She was born July 6, 1957, in Augusta, the second of two daughters born to Arthur Bourgoin and Mary Gerrish Canning. Patti attended schools in Augusta and graduated from Cony High School in 1975. During high school years, she was involved in band, playing the flute, chorus, All-State Chorus for two years and Chizzle Whizzle. She skied at Squaw Mountain, near Greenville, with family and spent summers at the camp of her grandparents on Sebec Lake, north of Dover-Foxcroft. Patti attended University of Maine, Orono; Husson and University of Maine – Augusta, UMA, and graduated from UMA with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in business management in 1981. She was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Patti worked as a waitress, a secretary with Maine State Housing Authority and managed a business office. She worked as a training director for University of Southern Maine Muskie Institute. She owned and ran her own business, Word Processing Consulting and Services, Augusta, for more than 20 years. During that time, she trained workers for Central Maine Medical Center, Lew-iston and also for several state agencies. She was a Notary Public, belonged to the American Society of Notaries and officiated at several weddings. She held a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, license and worked most recently as a caseworker for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. She was recently considering continuing her education to get a degree in law. In 1986 Patti was nominated for U.S. Jaycees’ Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award. She held the office of president of the Augusta Area Jaycees. She founded Maine Citizens Against Sexual Abuse in 1987. She was chairwoman of Maine Commission for Wo-men, 1987-1989. At age 31, she became the youngest president of the Maine Federation of Business and Professional Women in 1989 and in 1990 was voted Member of the Year. She was the first recipient of the Athena Award in 1990, to honor individuals who support and exemplify the goals of professional women. She was nominated for the Jefferson Award in 1991. She helped found the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame. She was the second woman to be admitted to the local chapter of the Rotary Club of Gardiner and later became president of that club. She was active in the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce and was mayor of Gardiner from 1991 to 1993. She was a mentor in the L.E.A.P. program and served as vice-chair on the Maine Board of Osteopathic Examination and Registration. She was a member of Gardiner Planning Board, Augusta Area Rape Crisis Center and served on the board of directors of Family Violence Project. She also served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. One of Patti’s dreams in life was to own a Corvette. She had a miniature version at home that never materialized into full-size, but for a few years she did sport around in a MG convertible and was also seen riding a Honda motorcycle. Patti thrived on challenges. She qualified for a private pilot’s license, rode a hot air balloon, rafted the Kennebec Gorge, rode a parachute behind a motorboat in Clearwater Beach, Fla., made a successful parachute jump from a plane in Norridgewock and rode a submarine in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Her travels took her around the United States, including Hawaii and the Virgin Islands. She also visited Bermuda, England, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. She was involved with respite care for foster children and financially sponsored several children from Central America. Patti is survived by her mother, Mary Gerrish Canning of Ripley; her sister, Kathryn Bourgoin and husband, David LaBrecque; nieces, Julianne and Holly LaBrecque of Orono. Donations in Patti’s memory may be made to Family Violence Project, P.O. Box 304, Augusta, ME 04332.