Patricia Towner

Patricia Towner passed away peacefully on June 28, 2024.  Patricia was born February 25, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York to Frank and Margaret Balestra and was the eldest of four girls.

Her family moved to California in the 1940s and Patricia lived in Long Beach for over 50 years.  She graduated from Millikan High School in Long Beach and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from California State University, Long Beach.  Later she obtained her Juris Doctorate from Western State University of Law. Throughout her career, Patricia held various jobs in education but was most proud of her ten-year tenure as the Commissioner for the Commission for the Status of Women for the State of California.

Patricia married Ronald Steinmeyer on December 24, 1996, and shared 27 years of marriage until his passing just 22 days before her on June 6, 2024. They had an inseparable bond.  They had a passion for traveling, cruising, camping and spending time in the mountains.  Her favorite hobbies were sewing and crossword puzzles.  Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren meant the world to her and Ron.

Patricia is survived by her children Christine Medina (Steven) and Michael Vogel (Jennifer); sister Geraldine Karasik (Irwin); and nieces LeAnne Johnson (Mick) and Tracey Carr (Mark). She cherished her nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband Ronald; children Geoffrey and Deborah; parents Frank and Margaret; and sisters Judith and Dianne.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Foundation in her honor.

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