To those who knew her, Alexandra “Alex” Patafio of Roswell was brilliant, outgoing, and wildly passionate. At 30, she was in her third year of law school at Georgia State University, driven by a deep sense of purpose. Her mother, Michele Patafio, describes her as “a born leader, serious and determined but also had an amazing sense of humor that could lighten the worst of situations. Alex defied her own fears and championed for the underdog, marginalized communities, especially women and people of color. She believed that everyone was of value and deserved equality and that is what she was working toward.”
On October 7, 2022, Alex was heading home after dinner. “Alex was on fire about finding evidence to free a wrongfully incarcerated individual (the woman was later freed because of the evidence Alex discovered the day she was taken from us).”
That night, tragedy struck. “When I saw the blue lights through the window at 1:42 am, I frantically struggled to get the door open. The police asked if I were Alex’s mother. I had no idea [that] my beautiful, vibrant, exquisite creation of a child was gone.” Alex passed away on her way home in a car accident.
Out of loss came purpose. Michele and her family founded the Alex Patafio Foundation “to help save lives.”
“Start the wave of change. SEE SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING. Call the police, delay the driver, or find an alternate way home. Don’t turn a blind eye. Be part of the solution.”
Visit alexpatafiofoundation.com to take the pledge and honor Alex’s legacy by saving lives.
“I miss her to depths that words will always fail to capture.”
“We can’t change what happened to Alex, but we can change what happens next by refusing to stay silent when lives are at risk.”