Georgia General Assembly · Full text

HR 1465: Patafio, Alexandra "Alex" Marie; honoring the life and enduring legacy; indelible contributions to the Georgia legal community while a student at the Georgia State University College of Law; condolences

Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 24, 2026 · Passed

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House Resolution 1465

By: Representatives Park of the 107th, Jones of the 47th, Kelley of the 16th, Holly of the 116th, and Holland of the 54th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and honoring the life and enduring legacy of Alexandra "Alex" Marie Patafio for her indelible contributions to the Georgia legal community while a student at the Georgia State University College of Law; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Alexandra Marie Patafio, affectionately known as Alex, enrolled in the Georgia State University College of Law in August 2020; and

WHEREAS, in a class of 215, Alex instantly became a standout as a natural born leader and trailblazer; and

WHEREAS, to her classmates, Alex was known for her charisma and contagious spirit, having adopted the motto "Do It Scared" because she knew any fears she had mattered less than the impact she could have on someone in need; and

WHEREAS, Alex was known to her professors as that rare type of student who could and did lead the charge to reinvigorate a community and as someone who had an unrelenting desire to not only know the law, but to seek justice; and

WHEREAS, these characteristics led her to become active with various initiatives offered by the College of Law including its Health Legal Partnership (HeLP) Clinic and the Alternative Spring Break pro bono program coordinated by its Center for Access to Justice; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of her fearless advocacy on behalf of children and families receiving care at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Alex was awarded the HeLP Legal Services Clinic Award; and

WHEREAS, as a student leader in the Center for Access to Justice Alternative Spring Break program, Alex was instrumental in helping find resources for more than 1,000 tenants facing eviction, earning high praise and acclaim from the White House and the United States Department of Justice; and

WHEREAS, through her work in pro bono projects Alex played a vital role in helping secure the dismissal of criminal charges on behalf of a wrongfully accused individual who had spent months incarcerated, and her efforts were commended by the Superior Court of DeKalb County and featured on WSB-TV news; and

WHEREAS, on October 7, 2022, two months after her 30th birthday, and just seven months shy of earning her law degree, her short life came to a catastrophic end as a result of one bad decision of a drunk driver; and

WHEREAS, in life, Alex infused every program she participated in at the Georgia State University College of Law with her boundless energy and impassioned devotion to the values of equal justice for all; and

WHEREAS, despite this heartrending loss, her memory lives on through the "Alex Patafio Public Interest Leadership Award," given to students who demonstrate exceptional promise in the field of public interest law; the "Class of 2023 Alex Patafio Scholarship," established by her graduating class to support future students who desire to become advocates for the overlooked and underserved; and the Alex Patafio Foundation, established to create a world where alcohol related fatalities are nonexistent; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia State University College of Law thought it fitting and proper to posthumously award Alex the Juris Doctor degree with the distinction of a Certificate in Public Interest Law and Policy at the Commencement Ceremonies of May 2023.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body celebrate and honor the memory of Alexandra "Alex" Marie Patafio for the indelible contributions she made to the Georgia legal community, her treasured impact on the Georgia State University College of Law, and her inspiring commitment to access to justice.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to her parents, Chris and Michelle Patafio; her sister, Michaela Patafio Abdou; the Board of Directors of the Alex Patafio Foundation; and to Courtney L. Anderson, Dean of the Georgia State University College of Law.