In Memoriam: Patricia C. Andrews

In Memory of Patricia C. Andrews, B.A., M.Div., D.Min.
Patricia Caplan Andrews (Pat) died on September 26, 2025, with her daughter, Amanda, son, Nick, and son-in-law, Craig, by her side, at The Pines in Davidson, N.C.

Pat had a long and varied working career as a teacher, writer, realtor, addictions counselor, and a Christian educator. In that role, she worked for some time at St. Albans Episcopal Church in Davidson, N.C.

She enjoyed reading novels, meditation and prayer, needlework, the New York Times crossword puzzle, playing piano, bird watching, and watching TV crime and police dramas with a bowl of popcorn. She wrote constantly all her life: a daily journal, stories, and some poetry. Among her publications were Beginning Hebrew (co-authored with Prof. John Townsend), Psalm Meditations for the Church Year, and The Santa Book (2001). She also published reviews and opinion pieces in The Harvard Post, the National Observer, and the New York Times.

In her later years, arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease symptoms, and the aftermath of strokes kept her from some of these pleasures; but the musical and religious programming at The Pines and daily novel readings and prayer over Facetime helped her maintain some of these interests until the end.

Born on November 8, 1941, in St. Louis Missouri, to Virginia (Jean) W. Schaefer and Louis J. Schaefer, Pat was the eldest of four, with Barbara (d. 1974), Susan, and Elizabeth following. She grew up in St. Louis, where she attended Mary Institute from junior kindergarten to 11th grade, and then finished high school at Monticello boarding school. She always loved learning, and even enjoyed diagramming sentences, a pleasure she passed on to at least one of her children.

Entering Wellesley College at 16, she was a member of the Class of 1962 and majored in Religious Studies. At 19, she married Alan P. Caplan (div. 1972), first became a mother at 21; and by 28 had four children.

In the early 1970s, she became active in the women’s movement, especially as a member of the Boston chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW). She organized and labored hard for the passage of the Massachusetts Equal Rights Amendment, and other laws to ensure gender equality in employment, education, and public accommodation. She continued being an active constituent, frequently calling her representatives. Her last active campaigning was for Hilary Clinton’s presidential run in 2016.

In 1973, Pat married the love of her life, Denison (Denny) Andrews (d. 2005) and became the stepmother of three children. They had a passionate and companiable marriage for 32 years, living in Cambridge (1973-1977 & 1988-2001), Harvard (1977-1988), and Amherst, Massachusetts (2001-2005) until Denny passed away from cancer in 2005.

From the 1970s through the 1980s Pat was a working mother of young children and teens, laboring in the real estate sector: first in regulation and enforcement (working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts), real estate sales, and then real estate education. In that role she was the founding director of a pre-licensing school.

A religious person since her childhood in St Louis, where she attended Ladue Chapel Presbyterian church, Pat eventually became a devout Episcopalian in the late 1970s. Answering a call from God, she studied at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge Massachusetts, earning an M.Div in 1984 and a D.Min in 1996. In her spiritual and religious practice, she sought to eliminate problems of patriarchy and inequality, as evinced from one of her favorite Bible passages, Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In addition to Christian education and formation in churches, her ministry also led her to serve in hospitals, jails, and addiction rehab centers.

In the 1980s, Pat and Denny became sober together, but continued their love of ice-cream, cookies, and other sweets. They also enjoyed traveling together: in the early years camping trips in the USA and Canada; and in the 1990s, traveling overseas where they visited England, Russia, Hong Kong, and China. They also enjoyed visiting and hosting their children and grandchildren across the country.

In 2007, Pat left Amherst, and moved to Davidson, N.C. where in addition to working at St. Albans, she enjoyed helping with her two grandsons, Angus and Louis. Over the years, she also hosted some of her granddaughters working summer jobs in the Davidson area, Rachel, Sophie, and Amelia. Her son Nick, also lived with her off and on over the years. In 2018, Pat moved into independent living at The Pines and later spent several years in nursing care there.

The family would like to deeply thank the caregivers at The Pines, especially those in the nursing unit for their kindness and patience. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Grace Church in Amherst, Mass. Details will be shared closer to the date.

In lieu of flowers, contribution in Pat’s name can be to the American Heart Association, Planned Parenthood, the League of Women Voters, or a charity of your choice that helps the addicted, the poor, or otherwise marginalized.