Patricia New, 66, of Springfield, valedictorian at Monument Mountain in 1969

Patricia A. “Pat” New, 66, of Springfield, passed away peacefully Monday, March 19, 2018.

Patricia ‘Pat’ New

Born Aug. 7, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Edward F. New Jr. and Helen Cordes New. She was raised in Stockbridge, then, after college, lived in Great Barrington for several years before moving to Springfield over 26 years ago. Pat graduated as valedictorian from Monument Mountain Regional High School in 1969. She also received a Certificate in Applied Music and Theory from the Pittsfield Community Music School, a Bachelor of Music in applied piano from Boston Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Science in computer science from Union College, Schenectady, New York.

Her career included being a piano teacher; the organist and choir director at St. Peter’s Church, Great Barrington; mathematics and computer teacher at Berkshire Country Day School; computer programmer at Geary Corporation; programmer analyst, project leader and marketing support coordinator at Chart Healthcare Information Systems; financial analyst, project leader and contract coordinator at Holyoke Hospital; and senior application analyst at Baystate Medical Center.

She was an accomplished pianist and, in high school, won first prize in a music competition that was broadcast over the radio. Pat enjoyed concerts, holding subscription series tickets to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston, and attending concerts at Tanglewood. She also enjoyed traveling around New England, especially to Maine and Vermont, as well as trips to Canada and a very special trip to Paris. She frequently took tour group bus trips to religious shrines, as she was very devoted to her Catholic faith.

She is survived by her brothers Edward F. New III, Eugene M. New and William J. New and wife Paula; sister Christine M. Castellon; and nephews and nieces Richard, Kari and Nicole New and Samantha, William Jr. and Robert New, her godson. She was predeceased by her parents along with her brother-in-law John A. Castellon.

A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, March 28, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 11 Elm St., Stockbridge, conducted by Rev. Brian McGrath, pastor. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Stockbridge. Family and friends are invited to attend visitation Wednesday, March 28, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME in Great Barrington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Patricia’s memory to Berkshire Music School through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to the family, go to www.finnertyandstevens.com.