John Patterson

John Newton Patterson, a brilliant “gentleman’s” lawyer and mentor, historian, scholar, and worldwide traveler departed this life on Wednesday July 28, 2021 at his home in Santa Fe after quietly dealing with cancer since February of 2019. John embraced life to the fullest and enriched the lives of many. He is survived by his traveling companion and wife of 38 years, Janice M. Ahern (Jan).

John was born in Taylor, Texas in October of 1943, the only child of Herbert Patterson and Helga Engstrom Patterson, and embarked on a life’s journey full of curiosity and diverse interests. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and his J.D. degree from the University of Texas. Following graduation from the University of Texas, John arrived in Santa Fe in 1970 planning on a temporary stay as a law clerk to Court of Appeals Judge Waldo Spiess. The temporary stay became his permanent home in his beloved Santa Fe after admission to the State Bar of New Mexico in 1971.

Early in his career he joined the partnership of Bryd, Connelly & Patterson and later joined the firm of White, Koch, Kelly & McCarthy as a partner. He was a shareholder in the firm of Scheuer, Yost & Patterson, P.C. for approximately 20 years. He completed his career at Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb, P.A.

In 1981 and 1982, John and Jan, his colleague and later wife, worked together in the New Mexico legislature, resulting in the adoption of the New Mexico Condominium Act. He authored with Jan “Condominium Law: The New Mexico Condominium Act”, 15 New Mexico L. Review 203 (1985), now considered the authority on New Mexico condominium law. John’s practice focused on real estate and commercial matters representing individual real estate developers, lending institutions and title insurance companies. A major focus of his practice was representation of owners converting real property to the condominium form of ownership and assisting community associations.

John was a member of the New Mexico Bar Association and the Opinion Letters Task Force, Lawyers’ Opinion Letters in Mortgage Loan Transactions New Mexico of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section. He was a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and the American College of Mortgages Attorneys. He was recognized by Best Lawyers in America and designated twice as the Santa Fe Real Estate Lawyer of the Year. John was also recognized by Chambers USA, Southwest Super Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell – AV rated.

John enjoyed conducting seminars and sharing his extensive expertise with lawyers, members of community associations, real estate brokers, surveyors and others. He enjoyed most the mentoring of younger lawyers and was always available to engage in esoteric discussions of obscure legal issues with younger lawyers and his law partners. Such interactions with the younger lawyers might include target practices on Friday afternoons. He was known to treat younger lawyers as his peers.

John was a model of what the best in the law and in humanity offer. His intellect and his mastery of the law were unmatched. He truly cared about his clients and searched for all relevant information, in order to uncover every fact in play, to reach an appropriate and often practical resolution.

John had a wonderful sense of humor, a dry and quick wit and was occasionally quite irreverent. John was a “Renaissance man,” clever and curious and interested in so many different things outside the law. John’s most pleasurable leisure interests included meticulous planning for his travels, WWI and WWII history, archeology, genealogy, searching for indigenous rock art, scuba diving in remote locations, and the preparation of many sophisticated meals as a self-taught chef.

John and Jan traveled the world together including extensive areas of the United States. Travels in the Southwest resulted in John being blessed with many dear Hopi and Zuni friends who encouraged him to attend ceremonies over the years. Travels in the Southwest also engendered an interest in indigenous art including Hopi weavings and kachina dolls, Hopi and Navajo plaques and baskets, Navajo rugs, pueblo pottery and, of course, belt buckles for John and unique jewelry for Jan.

John will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched and enriched. John is survived by Jan’s many nieces and nephews who loved and enjoyed “Tio John.” John is predeceased by his parents and his first wife, Janet Taylor Patterson, who passed in 1980.

John requested that no formal services be held to commemorate his passing. He did, however, not object to a party or gathering celebrating his life. Plans for a celebration are pending.

A special thank you to Robert Hermann, Jr., MD of Rochester, MN and Del Corazon Hospice of Santa Fe. Persons interested in making donations in John’s memory may consider donating to Hopitutuqaiki (Hopi School, Inc.) (http://www.hopischool.net) c/o Donna Humetewa Kaye, PO Box 583, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86939 or to Del Corazon Hospice (http://www.delcorazonhospice.com) 811 St. Michaels’s Drive, Suite 207, Santa Fe, NM 87505.