Cherie Jo Patenaude

Cherie Jo Patenaude (neé Coombes) died March 31, 2026. She was 85.

She was born on July 11, 1940, to R.W. and Frances Coombes in Fort Worth, Texas. She showed an early aptitude for mathematics, and after attending Stephens College, went on to get a degree in math from the University of Texas at Austin in 1962. She was hired by the Control Data Corporation in California, an early pioneer in computing, and spent several years helping develop the CDC 6600 and 7600 computers. She continued to work in computers through the '70s, '80s and '90s at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She worked in the Computations division remote-entry CAIN terminals and booth. She developed a remote system for secure handling of strategic nuclear materials. She also worked on a materials threat model, ASSESS, to evaluate facility security vulnerabilities from insider and outsider sources.

She is survived by her husband Steve, son Mitch, daughter-in-law Melanie, granddaughter Mia, brother Bill, sister-in-law Judy, and cousin Glenn McNew and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Carol Ann, and her brother-in-law Bob.

There will be a celebration of life at 5 p.m., Friday May 15 at 3 Steves Winery 5700 Greenville Rd., Livermore. In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to the Alameda County Community Food Bank or the Tri-Valley Haven.