Patty McCracken: Giving Back to Grosse Pointe

To some, retirement is a chance to rest; but to former therapist Patty McCracken, 78, retirement is an opportunity to be more active and supportive in the community.

“I’m a true believer in giving back,” she said.

Her generous and energetic spirit inspired a 53-year-long career as a therapist and motivated her to get involved in volunteering around the Grosse Pointes.

“From the time I was very, very young, I knew I wanted to be in a helping profession and… I’m still in a helping role,” said the 78-year old former therapist and mother of six.

From Grosse Pointe Memorial Church to The Helm to Honduras, McCracken has been there; helping build homes, guide youths, care for members of her parish, and teach beginner’s bridge.

At the Memorial Church, she worked as a stephen minister, an elder, a two-time deacon, and a Sunday school teacher. She was one of the first women to sit in on the 2020 planning committee and even inspired her husband, Jack, to become an usher and stephen minister at their church.

At her home, McCracken still offers therapy to a few select patients — though her private psychiatric practice closed two years ago — and in the past she offered pro bono consultations to those in need and suffering from depression or anxiety.

When her husband needed daily medical transportation after a hip replacement, she stumbled upon a new organization, The Helm.

“I believe you give back and so that’s when I contacted The Helm ... This is a wonderful, unbelievable group of people here, the people who are running the Helm. They just do a beautiful job of making people feel comfortable, welcome and at home. And I just am so glad I found it.”

She began by helping with the Helm’s Meals for Wheels program, but lately she’s teaching beginner’s bridge. It was one of three program suggestions she made, the others being a grief support group and a collaborative cookbook.

The Helm hung their hat on beginner’s bridge, McCracken said, and, despite her reservations about teaching, she gave it her best.

After just one season, the program’s already a huge success and likely to return this spring.

“I can’t tell you how much time I put into it; way over prepared. WAY over prepared,” McCracken said. “I wanted to give them so much more. They just wanted to play cards, they were just hanging out.”

Still, it’s the best way to meet new people, have fun and keep connections alive, McCracken said, adding that staying “Stay connected with family, community, old friends,” staying healthy, and active are some of the most rewarding things.

“I can’t say that enough … physically, emotionally, mentally… ‘course that’s who I’ve always been in my life,” said McCracken who exercises three times a week and hiked through the Adirondack mountains last summer.

Throughout the years, McCracken’s passion for life encouraged her to overcome difficulties to achieve her goals and realize her dreams. When her family’s financial limitations stood in the way of studying, she got a job, a scholarship and later a grant in order to become the therapist she is today. 

Her love of tennis took her on a 26-year adventure across the country with a team of young women on the US Tennis Association. Her love of the outdoors inspired a trip with the American College Abroad, to more than eleven countries, before returning home to marry and mother her six children: Bradly (52), Brett (51), Mike (49), Alissa (47), Kevin (47), and Heather (45).

When glaucoma and macular degeneration set in, she switched from competitive tennis to playing padel, pickle ball, platform tennis, golf and bridge. Now she teaches.

“I will always be active as long as my body will allow me too,” she said. 

The secret to happiness, McCracken said, is to “be positive, be focused on what you have, not what you don’t have. It’s just so important in all stages of life.”

Published in the Grosse Pointe New