Ms. Alexandra Marie Patafio

Alexandra Marie (Alex) Patafio, third-year law student and life-long resident of metro-Atlanta, Georgia, died tragically on Friday, October 7, 2022. She was 30 years old. Alex graduated from Lassiter High School in Marietta, Georgia as a member of the Class of 2010. She attended Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, where she was involved in student leadership organizations and Zeta Tau Alpha, and she worked proudly for The Colonade, her college newspaper. Alex graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications in 2014, ready to set the world on fire. After working tirelessly in corporate events for a number of years, Alex decided to pursue her true passion and attend law school. She enrolled in Georgia State University’s College of Law in August of 2020 to pursue a Juris Doctor and a Public Interest Law & Policy Certificate. It was there that Alex really came alive in her work. In her second year of school, she was accepted into the prestigious Health Law Partnership (HeLP) Clinic, an opportunity that allowed her to support and advocate for children and families who were receiving care at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hospital. She also served as the student trip leader for 34 students who participated in an alternative spring break program where they worked on pro bono projects. As she approached her third and final year of law school, she was offered a legal internship at Arora Law in Atlanta, Georgia, a criminal defense firm that welcomed her into their family with open arms. While assisting Manny Arora and his team, she was given the chance to argue in court for the first time and showcase her extraordinary skills in public speaking and persuasion. She was recognized by WSB-TV news in Atlanta for her work in getting the charges dropped for a man who spent 6 months in prison for a crime he did not commit. She also worked with the Truancy Intervention Project in Atlanta to assist with eviction prevention efforts, a project that was recognized by The White House and the Department of Justice. Alex leaves behind her loving parents, Christopher and Michele Patafio; her sister, Michaela Patafio; her beloved life partner, Mac Grant; two grandmothers, Marie Boyer and Barbara Renda; her rescue chihuahua, Chanchito Burrito; and numerous other aunts, uncles, and cousins. A celebration of Alex’s life will be held on Saturday, October 15th, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Northside Chapel & Funeral Home, located at 12050 Crabapple Road Roswell, GA 30075. All are welcome to join us as we say goodbye to Alex for now, until we meet her again. In lieu of flowers, our family encourages you to make a donation in Alex’s honor to one of the following charities. Our hope is that Alex’s passion and legacy will continue to change the world through your generosity. The Sentencing Project The Georgia Innocence Project Pro-Choice America Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Atlanta Legal Aid

Ms. Alexandra Marie Patafio

August 17, 1992 - October 7, 2022