Patricia "Patti" Blevins

Patricia "Patti" Blevins was a trailblazing Delaware politician, devoted public servant, and tireless champion for those whose voices too often went unheard. Born on February 21, 1954, in Wilmington, Delaware, she grew up to become one of her state's most consequential lawmakers — defined not just by the offices she held, but by the lives she changed. Patti attended Mount Pleasant High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Temple University in 1975. She entered public life through local government, serving on the Elsmere Town Council and as Mayor of Elsmere from 1985 to 1990 — roles that sharpened her instinct for practical, people-centered leadership. In 1990, she won election to the Delaware State Senate representing the 7th district, a seat she would hold for 27 years. In the Senate, Blevins rose steadily on the strength of her integrity and collaborative spirit. She served as Majority Whip from 2007 to 2009, Majority Leader from 2009 to 2012, and in 2013 made history as Delaware's first woman ever to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore — a position she held through 2017. Colleagues remembered her as someone who listened before she spoke, trusted her staff, and commanded respect by showing it to others. Her legislative legacy is woven into the fabric of Delaware family law. She helped create the Delaware Domestic Violence Coordinating Council in 1993, sponsored the landmark Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act in 1994, and helped establish the Office of the Child Advocate. She fought for domestic violence victims, championed marriage and gender equality, advanced equal pay, and pushed reproductive health rights forward. In 2003 she received special recognition from the Delaware Small Business Development Center, and in 2004 she was inducted into the Delaware Women's Hall of Fame. Beyond the Senate chamber, Patti was a proud mother and grandmother, a devoted dog lover, and a lifelong Philadelphia Phillies fan who cheered her team with the same loyalty she brought to her constituents. She spent her final year in public service directing Delaware's Office of Animal Welfare before stepping down to be with her family. Patti Blevins passed away on October 7, 2026, at age 72. Governor Matt Meyer ordered Delaware flags lowered to half-staff in her honor. She is survived by her husband, Michael, and the countless Delawareans whose lives she made better — her truest and most enduring legacy.