A memory, written by Spuddie

Pat's self-penned bio written in (I believe) 1997, reads

50 years old on April Fools Day.
Disabled due to congestive heart failure, but feel only 25.
Ran restaurants for 25 years.
Navy veteran from 1966 to 1973, rode nuclear submarines as a Machinist Mate.
Married to Lucy since 1975 have two children, one of each flavor. Dorothy 22, and still at home and Sean 20, who suffers from TBI due to car accident. Raise roses, read, write, net nut and general PITA. 3rd Degree K of C.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pat and I met in November 1996 on the Usenet newsgroup, alt.penpals.forty-plus-yrs.  (Okay, so I gate-crashed a bit!) Anyway, we became fast friends and I could always count on Pat to tell it like it is, even if his methods and language at one time earned him the much-coveted title of "resident asshole" on the newsgroup.  With Pat, what you see is what you get, whether he's got his flamethrower out or pouring his heartfelt feelings at your feet. He pulls no punches, speaks his mind, and often bares his soul for the whole world to see. While I don't always agree with his viewpoints on everything, I do respect the man behind them. He's been a friend to me through some pretty rough times recently, and has been a source of true wisdom and strength. And so, Pat...this is for you, buddy, and for Lucy and Sean and the rest of your family too, just because they're damned lucky to have you.

Pat ceased being a regular on APFPY a couple of years ago and I myself had only sporadic contact with him after that. He'd been having more heart problems and was also dedicating more time to a local support group for families coping with TBI--traumatic brain injury.  I learned that Pat passed away in August 2001 of heart failure.  What does one say upon learning such a thing? I said, "Aw, shit." And cried for a bit, remembering the verbal jousting we did on APFPY and the e-mails we exchanged. He had been a good friend at one time and listened patiently like a second father when I was going through the hell that is a divorce. He always called 'em as he saw 'em and for that I held the utmost respect for him.

I decided to resurrect "Pat's Pages"...initially back in early 1997, Pat had written a brief essay for my newly-forming website regarding his son Sean's accident and brain injury.  Then, at one point, Pat felt he wanted to move on, so I took down the page about Sean and filled 'his' page with a few funny stories that he wrote.  I'm including the original essay page from back then, followed by a couple of his of his funny stories. I hope you enjoy them all...they are but a translucent wisp of who the man was, but for those of us who 'knew' him, reading them again surely brings a smile to our faces.

His forthright manner, sense of humor and generous spirit will be missed by all who knew him, whether in real life, as an e-mail pal or on APFPY. Many of us spent happy hours verbally jousting and joking with Pat on APFPY in the group's early days. Rest in peace, dear friend.