PATRICIA “PATTY” JETT
1950 – 2024
1950 – 2024
Patty Jett, Cedar Key resident since the 1980s, passed away at Haven Hospice in Chiefland, Florida, on Monday, September 2, 2024, in the company of her husband Mike Borelli, daughter Rita Borelli, and son Noah Borelli.
Patty’s chosen professions mirror Patty’s essence. Patty was first a nurse. Among her assignments was an American Indian village in a refuge out west. Patty later became a teacher. Most of her teaching years were spent at Cedar Key School.
Long time, incredibly energetic bicycling enthusiast, Patty spread grace, energy, and compassion everywhere she went. Among the fortunate recipients of these gifts were the children of Cedar Key. For decades, Patty functioned in nearly every kind of post, from teacher, to librarian, to individual tutor, to art teacher, to exceptional education coach, and more. Sometimes on the payroll and most often not, Patty created the Young Authors ‘Program, where each elementary student listened to, read, often wrote, or created a book, and the Cedar Key Circus, where every elementary school student had a role mimicking a frog, a bear, a lion, etc.
Creative to the ‘nth degree, Patty devoted much time to Cedar Key Arts Center, orchestrating the Summer Elementary and Teen Art Program. For over a decade, some twenty elementary and ten or twelve teens would not only learn about art, but more importantly to Patty, learned how to work with one another, how to take directions, and how to appreciate one another. Critical to Cedar Key’s festivals, Patty provided art centers in the gazebo at City Park gazebo for many years.
Incredibly impactful was Patty’s devotion to fair elections in America. For a decade, since 2014, Patty worked with Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones to deliver flawless elections in Cedar Key. Fourteen - sixteen hour days for elections, and many more training sessions were Patty’s focus.
Few Cedar Keyans did not know Patty Jett. More of an impact on a community than she has had is incomprehensible. Always about, always helpful, always positive, and always generous epitomize the Patty we will sorely miss.
Plans are underway for Cedar Key School establishing the Patty Jett Scholarship for the Arts to be administered by the Parent Teacher Organization. A fundraiser is planned for December.
The Cedar Key Arts Center is planning a remembrance for Patty. Information will be published as plans proceed.
A celebration of Patty’s life will be announced as plans proceed.
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