Obituary of AlTerek S. Patterson

AlTerek Shaundel Patterson (Terek) was born May 28, 1981 in Plainfield, New Jersey as the first of four children to Robert Patterson, Sr. and Karen Patterson. He entered his eternal rest on Resurrection Sunday, April 12, 2020. Those still here will always give thanks and cherish his wonderful life and legacy! As a little boy, Terek attended church every Sunday and several times throughout the week. He was baptized and his strong belief in God continued throughout his life. Terek grew up playing Pop Warner football and also traveled with several township baseball teams. Terek, #24, while in high school played full back for Piscataway Chiefs football team and also played the outfield for the Chiefs baseball team. He graduated from Piscataway High School in 1999 and went on to attend Virginia State University (VSU), where he received his Bachelor’s Degree. After graduating college, Terek pursued a career in Law Enforcement and attended The Somerset County Police Academy at Raritan Valley Community College. He graduated with academy Recruit Class 35-05 in December 2005 and joined the Bedminster Township Police Department in Bedminster, NJ. A member of Bedminster PBA Local 366, Terek served as Past President, Vice President and later as Treasurer. A recipient of numerous Letters of Commendation, Terek received the Bedminster Lifesaving Medal three times as well as numerous letters of appreciation from community residents which he proudly served. In addition, he was also a member of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Taskforce and then was promoted to Sergeant. During his career in Law Enforcement, Terek furthered his education at Fairleigh Dickinson University earning a Master’s Degree in Administrative Science. Terek met the love of his life, Brandi Brock from Hackensack, while attending VSU. They were united in marriage on July 3, 2016 in Somerset, NJ. From that union came three children—Nylah, Sanaa and Santana. Terek had a love for sports and following retirement, he was going to focus on pursuing a second career in the security field with a professional sports team. As a hobby, Terek enjoyed riding motorcycles with his cousins and friends. He also enjoyed collecting sneakers, in particular Nike / Jordans, and had an avid collection of professional football, basketball and baseball jerseys, and as well as other sports memorabilia. Terek loved studying and analyzing sports, individual players and their stats, thus earning him the nickname of TSPN by his brother! He also ran several fantasy football leagues. Terek was a hard worker and a go-getter. He worked hard daily to provide for his wife and children and to keep them happy. As much as a hard worker Terek was, he was just as focused when he envisioned a goal. If there was a task in mind, it was met by or before its deadline. In addition, He was also a phenomenal writer. If you needed something written, all you had to do was convey your feelings or thoughts and he did the rest—turning out a well-written article or manuscript. Terek was well-known and loved by all! He always went out of his way, which was not considered as “out of the way” to help others. A lot of times it was the little things that meant the most to others that no one else would think about and he would always do those things to please them, such as asking his dad to be his Best Man in his wedding and his first tattoo being “Mama’s Boy”! Whether it was family, friends or a member of the community, if he could help out, he was there. He is predeceased by his paternal grandparents, William and Cynthia Patterson and his maternal grandfather, Harvey L. Nettingham. He leaves to cherish fond memories, his loving and devoted wife Brandi; three children, Nylah, Sanaa and Santana; his parents, Robert and Karen Patterson; three siblings, Robbie, Shaheerah and Michael (Alison); as well as his Godchildren, nieces, nephews, grandparents, Paul and Marlene Taylor and two special sisters, Vogue Faison and Rashmi Roberson as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends and colleagues.