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.