Pamela Sara Engle

Aug 23, 1942 -

Mar 31, 2024

Pamela Engle of Santa Fe died peacefully on March 31, 2024, after a battle with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, a rare form of dementia. She was born on August 23, 1942 in Moline, Ill., to Harold Cecil Engle and Kathleen Davenport, and raised with sister Lynne in Rockford, Ill. Pam graduated from Rockford East High, Lake Forest College and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She later graduated with a Physician's Assistant certification from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

What an incredible life! Early in her career, Pam was one of few women on Wall Street . . . while living in a group house with musicians, activists and a million kittens. She travelled South and Central America, where she decided to become a health care worker. From there she became a Physician Assistant, living in Austin and Galveston where she met a cadre of incredible people . . . and joined several strong women, including Betsy and Liz, in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. At Truchas Medical Clinic, Pam served rural residents and became a vital presence in the community.

In the early 1980s, Pam accepted the call to become a PA at the Neighborhood Health Center in Anchorage. She adopted her son Xavier, who was born in New Mexico, and nurtured his love of the outdoors, learning and music. Pam encouraged Xavier's passions for skiing, camping and kayaking, at which he excelled, while becoming a talented and focused student. Because apples don't fall far from the tree, after graduating from Dartmouth, Xavi became an Alaska medical student in the WWAMI class of 2016 at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He died tragically while in med school.

After retirement, Pam returned to New Mexico, reconnecting with many friends and making new ones along the way. She continued her fierce bridge playing, loved NPR and attended community events and listening to live music.

Throughout Pam's outsized life, she doted on a series of Jack Russell dogs (all named Hubba – except her last one, Baby), passionately supported social justice and civil rights causes, demanded equal rights for women, supported the LGBTQ+ community, and generally accepted BS from nobody. She is remembered for her zest for politics, humanitarian accomplishments, medical professional convictions and outdoor recreation . . . and gentle care for friends with medical challenges. She loved, and was loved, by many.

Pam is predeceased by her parents; and her son, Xavier. She is survived by sister, Lynne Nelson of Rockford, Ill.; nephew, Jeff Nelson (Rob Cogorno) of Lewes, Del.; niece, Jody Andruss of Madison, Wis.; and Julee Nelson (Paul Dean) of New York, N.Y. . . . as well great-nieces and nephew, Alison, Eli and Sophia.

Pam is also survived by numerous smart, thoughtful, intentional friends and colleagues she knew throughout her life, with diverse backgrounds and interests, including George, Janice & Steve, April, Hal & Ann, T.Steve, Sparks, Kaitlyn, BAMatt, Betsy & Robert, Liz & Shel, Pam P and Cam.

PLEASE share your Pam Engle memories and photos by clicking into: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/ZgNAawHT

A celebration will be held on Friday, April 19, at 1 p.m. at a private home in Dixon, New Mexico. A second event will be held at the Abbott Loop Pavilion in Anchorage on Friday, July 19, starting at 5 p.m. For details, please call Jeff Nelson at 917 968 9175.

To continue Pam's legacy, please consider a gift to the Xavier Engle Memorial Award. This award was established in 2015 and each year is presented to a medical student at the University of Alaska-Anchorage who exemplifies the joie de vivre that Xavier exuded. The family and friends of Pam Engle have updated the fund to permanently endow the award. To make a gift, go to: https://engage.alaska.edu/donation-with-cart?fid=AIVgFsNpdt4%3d&fdesc=3s4Ok5XfZgKR%2b4KRiqK%2fuLX6ikqwuQpByfkUxm5veyY%3d