It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Patricia “Pat” Chagnon who peacefully left this world on October 9, 2025, at the age of 59 following a three-year battle with severe cardiac complications as a result of the covid virus.
She was born in Amesbury, Massachusetts on February 17, 1966, to parents Richard Chagnon and his wife Katherine. The family moved to Tewksbury where they remained for 18 more years. It was in Tewksbury that Pat became involved in photography and music, setting her on a course that would shape her adult life.
Shortly after high school, Pat took her love for music to the drum corps activity where she became a marching member of the Citations (MA) and then the Casper (WY) Troopers. Later, she joined the Hurricanes (CT) and North Star Alumni (MA). She shared her love of the marching arts through teaching high school marching band, indoor percussion and winter color guard at Tewksbury, Everett, and Salem, NH high schools. She also began volunteering with the Troopers organization.
Her affiliation with the Troopers was long-standing. She was an alumnus, founding secretary for their Alumni Association, historian, technology advisor, photographer. In recognition of her long-standing dedication to the organization, Pat was inducted in the Troopers Hall of Fame in 2020. She founded and directed efforts to assemble a 65th anniversary celebration corps in 2023. The group, over 210 members strong, performed at the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis, IN. It was a crowning achievement for Pat and the organization.
Pat was a 32-year staff member of the publication “Drum Corps World” as a writer and sideline photographer. Pat loved having “the best seat in the house”, photographing corps on the field for 22 years before illness took away her ability. She always said that “...being behind the lens was a favorite place to be”.
Photography is what brought Pat and her wife Piper Nevins together. They built their friendship through one of their favorite activities, “Photo Safaris”, where they would grab their gear and head to the mountains, the ocean or the country to capture nature’s beauty. Later, Pat joined Piper in her photography business as her “second shooter” at weddings. Pat had longed to be a photojournalist since high school. Where Piper’s business focuses primarily on the LGBTQIA community, Pat discovered her joy of supporting the LGBTQIA community, telling their stories through art, whether it be for a wedding, Human Rights Association Gala, Pride events, Toys 4 Joys, Spirit Magazine and many other fundraisers and political action events. Pat was surprised to find that she enjoyed one of Piper’s other passions, vegetable gardening. Pat and Piper had a plot at the Community Garden in Westford, MA where Pat learned the joy of helping vegetables grow. She became enthralled with luffa gords, learning how to successfully grow them in the New England climate, dry them and add them to soaps. Kayaking was another joy, taking frequent treks to Truro, Wellfleet and Provincetown. Pat also grew a love for travel to the Caribbean islands. Her favorite islands, St. Thomas and St. John, are where she made her first scuba dives.
Pat is survived by her wife, Piper Nevins; older sister, Lauri; younger sister Jodi Salerno; nephew Brendan and niece Melissa. Pat also has a long list of cousins and of course, her fur babies Idgie, Sipsey, and Toby. Pat is preceded in death by her mother Katherine and father Richard.
Please make memorial gifts to The Trevor Project.