It is with great sadness that we share the news of the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Patricia (Patt) Evans Stowers, age 85, in Bloomington on August 21, 2018. The first certified sex therapist in the state of Indiana, Patt was a special part of our Center as well as the broader sexuality education, counseling and therapy community in Southern and Central Indiana over the course of many decades. She was a local champion for causes related to sexual diversity and, through her clinical practice, helped to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of countless Hoosiers.
In her memory, we are pleased to announce the launch of The Patt Stowers Student Travel Scholarship at the IU Foundation. This scholarship will support talented Indiana University students who are studying sexual health and presenting their research related to sexual health at scientific or professional conferences. We have been working on the creation of this scholarship over the past year and are heartbroken that Patt will not be able to congratulate the first round of award recipients in person. However, we know that she is with us in spirit and we are grateful for the time we have shared with this very special person.
Patricia (Patt) Evans Stowers, M.S.
Patt was born in Indianapolis on January 14, 1933 to Lucille Evans and Robert Stowers of South Bend. She married her soulmate Frederick W. Coons M.D. on September 29, 1956. Fred was the director of the Psychology Division at the I.U. Student Health Center and also had a private counseling practice alongside Patt. The couple co-counseled until his death July 14, 1980, and Patt continued the practice until her retirement around 2005.
Patt graduated from South Bend Central High School, DePauw University in Greencastle with a BA degree, and from Indiana University Bloomington with a Masters degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology. In addition to her counseling work, Patt taught in the School of Education with courses on Human Sexuality and Marriage/Family Counseling along with Alan P. Bell, Ph.D. which she continued after his passing.
Patt was also a volunteer for the Girl Scouts of America, doing training, serving as Neighborhood Chairman, and was the First Vice President of the Girl Scout Council in Bloomington. After retirement, Patt continued her civics work and volunteered at the Bloomington Hospital, Volunteers in Medicine, and Hospice. She will be greatly missed.
Dr. Debby Herbenick and Patt Stowers discuss an exceptional lifelong career in sex therapy at the Bloomington Sex Salon in February 2017
Dr. Brian Dodge and Patt Stowers celebrate her 80th birthday in 2013