Patty Suedkamp, a former Erlanger council member who served on the city council for over 20 years, died Monday morning. Suedkamp was a fixture in Erlanger’s political and community life and served in a variety of community roles in addition to her role on council.
“Patty gave everything she had to this community,” wrote Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette on the city’s Facebook page on Tuesday. “Her leadership, her kindness and her commitment touched every corner of our city, from public safety to beautification efforts to economic development.
“Patty didn’t just serve Erlanger, she helped shape it.”
Suedkamp first got involved with the city in 1980. She served as a volunteer on the Erlanger Rescue Squad, was the first secretary at the Erlanger Fire Department, was an original member of the Volunteer in Police Services and served a volunteer on the Erlanger Fire Auxiliary. She first joined the city council in 1999, served multiple terms but decided not to run again in 2020. She received a proclamation from the city in honor of her service on Dec. 2, 2020.
“We respect one another, and that’s the key,” Suedkmap told LINK nky (at the time River City News) in 2020 of her time on council. At the time, Erlanger’s City Council had twelve; today it has nine. “If you don’t give any respect, you don’t get any respect. Most of us are focused as a group. At least ten of the twelve jell at any given time.”
“We send our heartfelt condolences to her children, her extended family and the many people whose lives she touched,” the mayor said later on her statement. “Her memory will live on in the city she loved so deeply.”
Click here to read River City News’ profile of Suedkamp, written shortly after Suedkamp announced she would not seek reelection.