I met Pat Jarvi, for the second time, about four years ago when I began working as a reporter at the Whitefish Pilot.

Sadly, Pat passed away last week, leaving behind a legacy of commitment to serving the community as both an educator and through her service on the Whitefish School Board.

As chairwoman of the school board, Pat was always welcoming and friendly each time I saw her at meetings or an event. She could always be counted on to help provide information, even when the story might not be the most flattering to the district.

After some time of being in Whitefish, I learned that Pat had retired after many years as the librarian at Muldown Elementary. It was then that I realized I had actually first met Pat when I was a young student.

As a first- and second-grader, I loved to read any book or story involving rabbits. When a new book on the subject was placed on the library shelves, Pat was sure to point it out to me to make sure I checked the book out.

Although I have expanded my reading list beyond books about rabbits, my love of reading continues thanks to that early encouragement from Pat.

Just a third-grader when my family moved away from Whitefish, I didn’t remember her name. But for the years that followed, I have often thought fondly of the school librarian who was always kind and encouraged me to pick up the next book.

In conversations with Pat in the last few years, we talked about my attendance at Muldown when she was the librarian there. However, I never took the opportunity to tell her how thankful I was that she took an interest in me and the lasting impression that it had.

Through her 25 years serving at all three schools in the district, and later serving 15 years on the school board, Pat will be remembered by many for her commitment to serving Whitefish and its students.

I will remember her as a kind person that I’m grateful to have met, both as an adult and as a student.

— Heidi Desch is a reporter at the Whitefish Pilot