Former UCSB Swimmer Anne (Patterson) Allen Dies of Cancer at 38

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 8. ANNE Patterson Allen, former University of California Santa Barbara swim star, passed away on February 27 at her home in Palo Alto, California, with her family at her side. She died at the age of 38 after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

A loving wife and mother, she leaves her husband, Bradley; and two sons, Oskar, six, and Rowan, almost four.

She is also survived by her mother and stepfather, Judith Pollard Strellis and Spencer Strellis of Piedmont; her father and stepmother, MacKenzie Patterson, Jr. and Carol Jungwirth of Big Sur; paternal grandparents, MacKenzie and Betty Patterson; sisters, Paisley Strellis, Heather and Stephanie Patterson, and Lauren Mattiuzzi; and brothers, MacKenzie Patterson, III, and Eric and Keith Strellis; as well as her beloved nieces and nephews. In addition, she leaves her mother-in-law, Marion Stafford of Missouri; and sisters-in-law, Dawn and Renae Allen.

Anne swam at UCSB from 1983-1987 and finished her career with the Santa Barbara Swim Club at the 1988 Olympic Trials. She was also a long time member of the Walnut Creek Aquabears as an age grouper.

Born in Berkeley, Anne graduated from Piedmont High School in 1983. Captain of the womens' swim team at U.C. Santa Barbara where she earned All-America honors, she competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1988 before earning a B.A. in psychology with a minor in art.

She later worked in public relations and graphic design for San Francisco ad agencies, including Hal Riney, McCann-Erickson and Foote and Cone & Belding.

Anne loved life, loved to laugh, loved her family and friends. She was creative and energetic and lived her life with great style. She was very accepting of others, always willing to help, generous to and supportive of all those she cared about.

A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held on Sunday, March 20, at 11:00 a.m. at Sequoia Lodge, 2666 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Anne Allen Memorial Fund, c/o Mary Conner, 40 Haven Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94597. This fund was established by alumni of the U.C. Santa Barbara Swim Team. Donations might also be made to support ovarian cancer research.

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