Patti was born in Chicago and came to Southern California in 1962 to advance her volleyball career. She attended USC (1964 grad) and was voted into the Trojan Athletic HOF for her success. She competed for USA at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics as well as the 1963 Pan-American Games as a top setter.

She was a first-team USVBA Open All-American four times and USVBA MVP in the 40 and older division in 1994, 1995 and 1996. She became a successful high school coach at Santa Monica (won State title, plus coached daughter Bonnie), JC coach at Los Angeles City College, and then went to Pepperdine University where her teams made numerous AIAW Tournaments in a 40-year playing and coaching career. She won the USVBA ‘All-time Great Player’ award in 1983 and was inducted into the International HOF in 1996. She passed away in 2004 and her SCIVBHOF honored husband Mike passed away in 2017. They are the first husband-wife in the SCIVBHOF.