Patricia Avril Moreland Blakeborough Ewald, known as Trish, was a nurse and Air Force captain who devoted her life to nurturing others.

She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on April 21, 1944 and died on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, at the Livingston Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Livingston, New York. She was 81.

“The daughter of Allan and Margaret Blakeborough, she arrived in the United States on The Queen Elizabeth in 1948 with her parents and younger sister, Anne,” her family wrote in a tribute. “Orphaned at age 13, she often took on the role of protector of her younger sister and twin brothers as they all navigated their way through Vanderhyden Hall and foster care.

“She continued her nurturing manner in her career choice as a registered nurse. After graduating from Troy High School in 1962, she studied nursing at Hartford Hospital School of Nursing, graduating with an RN degree in 1965. Her career in nursing took her to many hospitals in a number of states. She joined the Air Force in 1969, attaining the rank of captain.

“She created a successful Private Duty Nurses Registry in Washington, D.C. before moving to Florida and becoming a Certified Pediatric Nurse. She enjoyed working with children throughout her career.

“Her son, Eric, was born in 1980 and became the center of her life. She was named the 1989 Sarasota BMX Mother of the Year for her devotion to her son. She was proud to watch him grow into a young man and become a medical doctor.

“In 1994, she returned to the Capital District, settling in Altamont, where she became a peer advocate for the mentally ill. Her advocacy for her clients resulted in improvements in the inpatient treatment of the mentally ill and also smoother transitions for them following discharge.

“She was a talented artist who painted throughout her life and shared her love of art whenever and wherever possible. She was a founding member of the Lunch Bunch, which has been meeting every Friday for over 20 years.

“Trish will always be remembered for her caring and generous spirit, her smile and her love of music and dance.”

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 Patricia Avril Moreland Blakeborough Ewald is survived by her sister, Anne Linendoll; her brother-in-law, Stewart Linendoll; her sister-in-law, Joanne Blakeborough; and by many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

Her parents, Allan and Margaret Blakeborough, died before her, as did her brothers, Alan and Miles Blakeborough.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church in Altamont at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, immediately followed by interment in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. with full military honors.