Giovanna Patterson Passes Away at 53

Giovanna “Gio” Patterson spoke passionately about her desire to put people first, and those who knew her say she excelled in that effort.

Patterson, most recently vice president of the Civil Commercial Group at Booz Allen Hamilton, died Jan. 28 at age 53. Her career spanned more than 30 years and included stints at IBM, Vangent, Inc. and SRA International, among others. No cause of death has been made public.

“I worked with Gio Patterson at Vangent and learned so much from her,” said Eileen (Cassidy) Rivera, vice president of marketing for Ciox Health. “She was a strong, determined and very talented leader who was a role model for women across the company. I remember many times when I’d run an idea past Gio before anyone else. She always gave unfiltered and honest feedback. Gio’s presence, leadership and camaraderie will be missed.”

She leaves behind husband Jerome, children Alexandra and Christina, parents Luigi and Maria Sacripanti and siblings Pete, Marcello and Gina Sacripanti. 

Patterson attended St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School in Bladensburg, Maryland. She graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1986 with a degree in computer science and from The George Washington University in 1991 with a master’s in computer science.

In her obituary, she is remembered as someone whose professional accomplishments “came second to her love for others.” A supporter of The Children’s Inn at NIH in Rockville, Maryland, Patterson is described as a “thoughtful leader, compassionate friend, altruistic volunteer, and fearless in the pursuit of her dreams.”

On her bio page for Booz Allen Hamilton, Patterson describes how she is “all about people,” whether she’s overseeing health accounts or integrating a new acquisition. 

“No matter which hat I’m wearing, I’m focused on motivating teams, retaining talented workers during transitions, and helping employees find their way,” she writes. “People are our assets, so you have to be responsive to their needs. I don’t know if it’s a little bit of motherhood and apple pie – I am an Italian mom, so we very much take care of our family. I take care of my people.”