Meet Pat

Pat was a motivated guy.

He started working early to pay for college. Hard work and a soccer scholarship got him into Seattle University. In his twenties Pat joined Outward Bound for high school students, and led week-long-treks on the Olympic Peninsula. He feel in love with mentoring and teaching young people.

After graduating he became an amazingly gifted Gemologist- the “Gravel Business” he like to call it. Funny guy.

He spent his life making everyone’s lives better- as a hard worker, mentor, loyal friend- and for 35 years, a Seattle Seafair Clown. He cherished the visits to Seattle Children’s Hospital, making balloon animals for kids, sparking laughs at the hospice care center, and driving the clown truck in Seafair parades.

His wife, Deb, was a middle school teacher and coach, and Pat jumped in to help run basketball drills and organize specialty clinics. When students were making papyrus for an Ancient Egypt history unit, Pat built 30 wood screens to make it happen and helped grade student maps.

When Deb taught at Everett and Jackson High Schools Pat delivered pizza and Krispy Kreme donuts to Key Club weekend fundraising events. He volunteered at the annual EHS DECA Garage Sale, and with his many connections around Seattle he would quietly find mentors for students to jump-start their careers. Pat simply had a passion to help others. The Seattle University motto really fit Pat: “For the difference we make”.

It is in Pat’s honor that this scholarship was started.