For UVA’s ‘young’ 96-year-old fan, attending games is what ‘keeps him going’

Patterson, as his closest Cavalier fans will tell you, is a “young 96.” He celebrated his birthday last Monday and continues to travel often, rarely missing opportunities to see his favorite team in action. Saturday marked the third road game he’s attended this season, on top of being a season ticketholder at Scott Stadium.

“His knees are better than ours,” Jones, 72, said while sharing a laugh with David Witt, 73. “He can walk better than both of us.”

Patterson is affectionally known as “Gigi” – pronounced “Gee-Gee” – to Jeffrey Witt. The two live together and are often leading UVA-related road trips. Some highlights include a 2018 journey to a rain-soaked football game at Indiana University and treks to Columbia, South Carolina, and Louisville, Kentucky, in March 2019 during the men’s basketball run to the NCAA title. 

Patterson displays the Virginia gloves he packed specifically for the Cavaliers’ football game against Duke in Charlotte. The game-time temperature of 39 degrees was the coldest in ACC Football Championship Game history. (Photo by Andrew Ramspacher, University Communications)

“I’ll be honest with you,” Witt said, “traveling to these games is what keeps him going. It gives him purpose.”

Patterson’s passion for UVA sports stems from his late son-in-law, Marshall Witt, David’s brother. Members of the Witt family have been going to UVA football games since the 1940s, and, upon Jeffrey’s birth in May 1980, Marshall OK’d two familiar Cavalier basketball names for his son – “Jeffrey” after Jeff Lamp or “Ralph” after Ralph Sampson.

“My mom wanted to name me Jason,” Witt said. 

With roots that deep, it was only natural for Patterson, a University of Richmond alumnus, to shift loyalties to UVA. 

“Mr. Patterson’s a great fan,” said David Witt, who has only missed one home Cavalier football game since 1961. “I doubt there’s anyone here who’s older than him. I mean, we’re old. But we’re not 96!”

While Patterson, a retired hotel and greenhouse manager, cared for his sick wife, Jeanne, until she died in 2016, Jeffrey said his grandfather hardly left the house. 

“And then he got to his mid-80s,” Jeffrey said, “and he started wanting to do everything. In the last 10 years of his life, he’s done more traveling than he did in his first 86.”

Beyond UVA games, Jeffrey and his Gigi have been to numerous pro wrestling events throughout the country. Last summer, they went to Hawaii together so Patterson could finally see all 50 states. This spring, they’re going to Egypt, so Patterson can see the pyramids.

And, yes, next August, when UVA opens the 2026 football season against North Carolina State University in Brazil, they’re already making plans to be there, too.

“I can relax traveling,” Patterson said. “I hate to sit at home and do nothing but twiddle my hands around.”

He’d rather use those hands – covered in Virginia gloves or not – to applaud the Hoos.

“We get a lot of enjoyment going to the games,” he said. “We always like to see them win. We’re happy when they win. We’re a little displeased when they lose. But they’re doing pretty good this year.”