Local Mom Gives the Speech of a Lifetime

Imagine taking the stage for the first time in front of 2500 people to introduce the President of the United States.

That’s the unique experience that Patricia Ravitz of Novato had last week at the Masonic Center in San Francisco, where Pres. Barack Obama appeared in a fund raiser on Thursday, Feb.16.

“I must have known a few people in the audience,” said the 60 year-old psychotherapist, who has offices in San Rafael, “because when I walked out there were people all over the audience shouting my name, and cheering and clapping.”

One of them was her friend Susan Pfeifer of San Francisco. “I didn’t know she was going to be doing it, and the people around me didn’t know why I was jumping up and down saying, 'That’s Patti! That’s Patti!'"

Ravitz had been asked weeks earlier by Lilla Weinberger of the Obama for America campaign to put her name in the pool to introduce the President.  “I’ve been volunteering for the Obama campaign since [the election in] 2008. I’ve just continued to work through legislation on whatever the president is working on,” she said.

There were doubtless many others who were in the running to introduce Obama, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area where the Democratic president remains highly popular. “How did I get selected ? It’s a question every asks,” Ravitz said, her voice still filled with wonder.

“I think in part because I’ve been a volunteer, people knew me. But for me I just thought it was so amazing that they asked a regular person – I’m not a politician, I’m not well known. So I think it was that, and also there’s so much in my life that has really benefitted from Pres. Obama’s policies.”

In particular Ravitz points to the fact that her 18 year-old son, Sebastian, is going to college next year in large measure due to a Pell Grant, a fact she pointed out in her speech to the audience at Masonic Hall, a portion of which is quoted here:

“I’ve been running my own psychotherapy practice for 30 years,” she said. “For a long time, that was enough to support me and Sebastian. But when the recession hit, I lost half my business in just two weeks. Since then it’s been hard getting by.

“Right now Sebastian and I are applying for financial aid. We’re hoping for a Pell Grant to help pay his tuition. We’ve been told we have a good shot at qualifying. That would be a huge weight off my shoulders, and Sebastian’s too.

“I don’t know yet exactly how much help we’ll get, but I do know one thing: Sebastian wouldn’t have a shot at going to college this fall if President Obama hadn’t expanded Pell Grants.” (At this point, her speech was interrupted – not for the first time – by a hearty round of applause form the partisan audience.)

“Because he did, millions more students – students like my son – can look forward to a college education!” Again, more applause.

You can see the video of Ravitz’ speech on her Facebook page or at this Vimeo link. http://vimeo.com/37131446

“It thought she was fabulous. She was warm, very human, very real, and told her story very beautifully,” said Pfeiffer. “I thought she had tremendous poise.”

“It was such a warm welcome," said Ravitz. "It helped me be comfortable up there speaking to 2500 people. The kind of reception that you and I hope we could get everywhere.”

Among the other celebrities at the event was Vernon Davis, and Sebastian was particularly thrilled to meet him, Ravitz said. “I embarrassed Sebastian by not knowing who Vernon Davis was. Vernon got a kick out of that.”

It’s clear from the pictures on her Facebook page, and the thrill in her voice, that for Patti Ravitz this was a great night.

“Really, we were treated like royalty, we were in the very front of the line to get to meet the president, and escorted everywhere by White House staff. It was just an amazing, amazing experience.

"He thanked me very much for introducing him – he was really grateful, like I was doing him a favor. He’s just so humble and approachable.'

At the end of her introduction, Pres. Obama came on stage to on ovation, but he took time to give Ravitz another kiss on the cheek and whisper in her ear, "You’re a natural.”

Said Ravitz: “I’m going to take that as the highest compliment I’m ever going to get!”