Standing in front of a classroom at Duquesne University, Maggie Patterson often bantered with journalism students as she guided them through lessons in investigative reporting or media ethics.

But more than that, Ms. Patterson spent hours shaping Pittsburgh’s next generation of reporters and was a trailblazer for women pursuing a career in what was once a male-dominated field.

“She was defiant,” her son Alex Ruck said, adding, “She was just super active in the journalism community, very supportive of female journalists in them getting a voice, and just a fierce protector of ethical reporting, free speech and access to unbiased information.”

Ms. Patterson, who left an indelible mark on Pittsburgh’s journalism community, died Nov. 10. She was 80.

A Pittsburgh native, Ms. Patterson pursue

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