Memorial Service for Estella Pate

Estella attended Tucson High School and graduated from The University of Arizona.
She grew up in a Disciples of Christ Church in Arizona and joined the Park Avenue Christian Church (PACC) in 1978 after she moved to New York City.

Estella lived a rich and wonderful life. She was musically gifted and used those talents in the Church and the larger world, creating happy, uplifting experiences for both performers and listeners.

PACC Pastor, Kaji Dousa, wrote:

“Estella was a delightful, dedicated member of the Park’s community. She has served in every leadership capacity we have – including bringing the church through some of its most complex and difficult moments as Moderator. She was an active leader in the Music ministry, including her brilliant direction of the Recorder Consort. To her last day, she was an Elder and a member of our Ministry Council. She gave so much of herself to the organizations she served, including and especially here. It’s hard to even begin to convey just how much we, her church family, will miss Estella.”

Professional Life:

In the Educational and Financial areas:

Estella had a solid education background that included public/private school teaching, museum education and administration experience.

Fundraising Consultant, from 2008-end of life, New York, New York. Additional services included development of fundraising programs centered on foundation and corporate giving.

Legal Aid Society of New York, 2010-2011, Assistant Director of Development, Institutional Giving: Responsible for over $750,000 in renewals and $1,030,000 in submissions to new foundations.
 Developed and initiated agency-wide Institutional Giving.

Grant reviewer for federal agencies and experienced in campaign procedures from development of case statement to prospect solicitation.

Provided prospect research, case development and proposal preparation to a variety of organizations including religious, cultural, and social service agencies and staff education on fundraising, development of stewardship programs and record maintenance.

Volunteer and Other Work:

Estella served on a team that developed slides for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Library of their works.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Curator of Education, 1981-85, supervised staff of 18, prepared and administered budget and evaluated all  education programs

She contributed her talents as one of the annotating editors of the Oxford Annotated Revised Standard Version of Bible.

Some of the agencies Estella helped by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars:

The Berkshire Children’s Choir
The National Council of Churches
Erasmus Neighborhood Federation,
Harlem Brownstone Arts, Coaches Initiative,
National Storytelling Network
Legal Aid Society, NY (2010-2011)
Involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City from 2006-2008

Education

Course work/Ph.D. Historical Musicology, New York University, MM in Music History, University of Arizona, BM in Music History University of Arizona

Affiliations

Women in Development, Association of Fundraising Professionals, American Association of Grand Writers, American Association of Museums, Sigma Alpha Iota (National Music Honorary), National Story-Telling Network