Xi Omega Xi Founder - Patty Renick Garrard

Patty is a 1970 initiate of Beta Eta. Her campus activities included student government, Junior Counselor (JC), President of Broward Hall during her junior year, and 1st Vice-president of Beta Eta as a Senior. She graduated in 1972 with a BA in English Education and returned to South Florida to begin her teaching career. Patty will celebrate her 38th wedding anniversary with her Alpha Chi Sweetheart, Walter, in December. Their wedding included three Alpha Chi attendants and bouquets of red carnations.

In Miami, Patty joined Beta Omicron Beta alumnae and served as president 1978-79. She attended the convention in Scottsdale, AZ in 1978 as a delegate and proudly remembers the vote to form the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. Patty and Walter moved to Cooper City in 1979 where she became active in the South Broward Alumnae club. From 1986-1992, Patty was Province Alumnae Chair for Florida/South. This experience truly cemented her love and loyalty to Alpha Chi Omega; meeting and working with the many talented Alpha Chi Omega women was a pleasure and taught her much. Patty also served as PACE Alumnae Chair 1996-98 and chair of the Alumnae Awards Recognition Committee. Closer to home, she served as President of her local alumnae group for over 10 years. During this time, the South Broward alumnae became Theta Phi Theta and merged with the North Broward alumnae chapter. Patty represented Alpha Chi Omega in the Fort Lauderdale Area Panhellenic through the years as a Board Member and President 1999-2000.

Patty and Walter have two grown daughters, Elizabeth and Danielle, and two very special granddaughters, Skylar and Ashlyn. After 30 years of teaching middle school language arts, Patty retired in 2009. She spent 25 years at Pioneer Middle School where she was Department Chair and became a National Board Certified Teacher. Patty and her husband moved to Vero Beach after their retirement where she is an active volunteer at The Environmental Learning Center and as a tutor with Literacy Services of Indian River County. Of course, she found her new alumnae chapter, Iota Nu Iota. Retirement means more time to enjoy the beach and water recreation, good books, Florida State Football, theater, and most importantly her family -- especially her granddaughters.

Patty attended her twelfth convention this summer, representing Theta Phi Theta as a delegate. Participating in the installation of our Xi Omega Xi virtual chapter was a very special highlight filled with emotion and devotion for Alpha Chi and Beta Eta. She is grateful for the award-winning BH advisory board and hopes our new alumnae chapter will help continue the excellence of BH.