Greenwich Historical Society To Premiere Documentary On Worthy Patterson

GREENWICH, CT — To kick off Black History Month, the Greenwich Historical Society will host the public premiere of "Pushing Boundaries: UConn’s First NBA Player," an account of the life and career of accomplished athlete and music executive Worthy Patterson, who died in 2022 at 91.

The documentary screening will be held at Greenwich Historical Society on Feb. 9 at 5 p.m.

Raised in Greenwich and a student at Greenwich High School, Patterson was the first Black player to captain a sport at the University of Connecticut. He became the first UConn alumnus, as well as one of the first generations of Black basketball players, to play in an NBA game as a member of the St. Louis Hawks.

Documentary producer and multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist Ronnie Forchheimer tells the remarkable story of Patterson excelling in predominately white Greenwich. The film goes through Patterson's accomplishments on the basketball court, as well as his post-NBA career as a successful executive at RCA and Warner Brothers.

Patterson notably attained these career heights before, during and after the civil rights movement.

A Q & A with Forchheimer will follow the screening. Members of Patterson’s family, including his wife Queen and son Worthy Patterson III, will join from California via Zoom.

"It’s a privilege to host the premiere of Ronnie Forchheimer’s moving film charting the course of Patterson’s career – its ups and downs, challenges and extraordinary achievements," said Greenwich Historical Society’s Public Programs Manager Stephanie Barnett in a news release.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the documentary screening, click here.