LOCAL LEGEND A life of learning and adventure: Patrick Sylvester on teaching, travel and giving

When you think of Socorro’s rich history and vibrant community, few names stand out like Patrick Sylvester. A lifelong educator, world traveler and community advocate, Sylvester’s story is woven into the fabric of this town.

“I grew up here,” Sylvester said. “We moved from Seattle in 1949 when my father became a professor at Tech. I was just one year old, and we lived in Lopezville.”

Sylvester graduated from Socorro High School in 1966, a year shadowed by the Vietnam War. “Some of my classmates were killed in Vietnam,” he said. “Isidro Baca volunteered, and so did two other guys.”

That memory still resonates deeply with him, said Sylvester.

After earning his degree from the University of New Mexico, Sylvester returned to Socorro to teach fifth grade at Garfield.

. “My first job was back in Socorro teaching fifth grade,” he said. “I loved it.”

His passion for education soon took him abroad, first to teach in Venezuela for three years, then to France and Switzerland for six.

“I followed my girlfriend to France and to Switzerland and ended up getting a job there for six years,” he said. “I did learn French. I learned actually better formal French when I came back and rejoined the staff at Socorro High School.”

Sylvester’s teaching style was anything but ordinary.

“We got into the habit of getting the kids organized for ski trips through the German and French clubs,” he said. “That’s how I got kids to want to learn German and French, they wanted to go skiing.”

He also led annual cleanups at San Lorenzo Canyon for over 20 years.

“When I came back from France, the canyon was shocking, full of trash and graffiti. So, we started cleaning it up. Some of those kids from the first few trips are now parents and grandparents, and their kids know: don’t trash it.” Said Sylvester.

Beyond the classroom, Patrick wore many hats: disc jockey at KSRC, headmaster on the Côte d’Azur and canal boat adventurer in France. “We’ve done canal boat trips in Burgundy,” he said. “You don’t need a license, and the boat sleeps ten. It’s cheaper than hotels and you don’t schlep luggage.”

His advice to young people? “Don’t get married, wait until you’re like 50 or something,” he said.

After decades of teaching, “about 40 years, maybe 30 in Socorro”, Sylvester now enjoys retirement with his wife in Alamillo, near the wildlife refuge he loves.

“We’ve been together over 20 years but only married four or five years ago,” he says. “Now we just enjoy life.”

Sylvester’s legacy is clear: generations of students who learned not just language, but life lessons.

“Travel takes away your prejudices,” he said, quoting Mark Twain. “Once you see how other people live, you understand the world differently.”

Editor’s note: If you would like to nominate someone for our Local Legends, Youth Spotlight or Creative Minds feature please email jcarranza@dchieftain.com