We in the Physics and Astronomy Department of UC Davis are raising funds to relocate — and make more permanent — the student-driven memorial honoring the life of Patricia "Patty" Marie Bolan, who passed away unexpectedly in May 2024 while hiking Mt. Whitney. Patty was an astrophysicist in the graduate program here at UC Davis and was merely a month away from her hooding ceremony where she would have been awarded her PhD.

The current memorial, placed in May 2025, consists of a 10"x14" bronze plaque and a Star Magnolia tree. University officials have expressed their concerns and originally insisted that the memorial be removed in its entirety.

After lengthy negotiations and fierce pushback from the Physics and Astronomy community, the University has agreed to the placement of a memorial bench in a garden nearby the physics building - where the P&A department's cat, Cheeto, normally hangs around. The bench will be placed on a modest concrete pad and to preserve the original memorial, the original plaque will be set into the concrete. The tree will be preserved and planted elsewhere.

All funds raised will be used to fund the costs of having the concrete laid, bench fabricated, and plaque set. The total cost, as quoted by University officials, will not exceed $7500 and is expected to fall within $5000-6000.

Patty was truly unique amongst her peers. Friendly to a fault, she was the most personable person you knew. A fierce friend, her love of astrophysics was only rivaled by her love of the outdoors. Despite the rigorous trials of graduate school, she simultaneously built her own camper van, spending the weekends in the Sierras hiking, mountaineering, or snowboarding, or literally any other outdoor activity known to man.

Patty knew deeply what meant the most to her and was willing to go to great lengths to make it happen. We all would be lucky to find something we love so much, and to have a friend like her.

Live life like Patty.