PATRICIA CONNORS BLISS

Hall of Fame Inductee, 

     Before Pat Bliss graduated from Riverview High School, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. Pat was a member of Future Teachers of America while attending RHS, serving as the group's Vice President her senior year. Another clue to her future at Riverview was her time at the school newspaper, the Ram Page. Pat was the paper's News Editor in 12th grade, and also spent her time in leadership roles with the Spanish Club and other campus organizations such as Pibroch, Inter-Club-Council Committee, and Senior Board.

     After graduating from the University of Florida, Pat began her teaching career in Ocala, and eventually returned home to the Riverview campus in 1980. That was the start of more than four decades leading the Ram Page and teaching journalism and English to generations of students. Bliss was named as a National Dow Jones Teacher of the Year finalist in 1982 and Riverview's Teacher of the Year.

     She brought the Ram Page into the 21st Century, overseeing its transition from print to a digital format. Pat has inspired countless students who have become successful journalists and best selling authors.

     In 2018, Bliss was inducted into the Riverview High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

     Bliss retired in 2021 after 41 years at Riverview High School. She now devotes her time and energy to her family, baking painting, and her church. A prized family possession is a multi-family, multi-generational cookbook, produced and professionally printed by Pat for all of her family members to keep cherished recipes.