Hope (Patsy) English Erdman, wife of Peter E.B. Erdman and summer visitor to the Vineyard since 1940, died in the University Medical Center at Princeton, N.J., on Sept. 15 in the loving company of her family. She was 79.

Born in New York city, she was the daughter of the late William and Margaret English of New York city and Edgartown. She graduated from the Westover School of Middlebury, Conn., attended Bryn Mawr College, then was employed by Charles Scribner’s Sons publishing company in New York, where she became publicity director and developed what became a life-long passion for books, reading, and learning.

While vacationing and sailing in Edgartown, she began a courtship with Peter. They were married in New York in 1954 and soon settled in Princeton, Peter’s home town, where they raised their four children. Her clear focus of life was family and friends. Patsy also volunteered for the local Bryn Mawr Book Sale for nearly fifty years, working not only for the annual scholarship benefit sale but also as a faithful and beloved worker on the twice-weekly donation days at the book warehouse.

Survivors include her husband, Peter, of Montgomery Township, N.J.; son and daughter in law William and Barbara Erdman of Wenham, son Andrew Erdman of Princeton, daughter and son in law Margaret and James Becker of Wilder, Vt., daughter and son in law Caroline and Nixon Hare of Montgomery Township; by her sister Margaret (Peggy) von Wichman; nephew Bradford and his wife Kjersti and their three children, and niece Alexandra of Anchorage, Alas.; and by grandchildren Jamie and Andrew Erdman, Sumner and Colin Becker, Maggie, Amory and Phoebe Hare.

A memorial service was held at the Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, N.J., on Sept. 23.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton, 61 Nassau street, Princeton NJ 08542.