My name is Patti. I hope my story of Pat brings a smile to all of you, as we reflect on our memories of Pat. More importantly that this story gives you comfort and solace as we all mourn his passing. 

I was blessed to have met Pat some 40 years ago. Pat, Alan KImball, and I were just 3 teenagers from "Nicky Newark" meeting up, ironically at Military Park to get our bus over the Passiac River to St. Cecilia's High School in Kearny.

We figured we had one up on others. "Book Smart enough to get accepted into St. Cecilia's and "Street Smart" enough to have eachothers' backs in "Nicky Newark".

Newark gets a "Bad Rap", because it gave us all "Our Roots" and influenced/molded the man Pat became. As Skynyrd sang, "A Simple Man", down to earth and appreciative of the little things in life. Thankful just to sometimes have the things we needed, never mind wanted. The Wish LIst from the Sears Christmas Catalog back then, was just that a Wish List.

In 1984 Pat and my brother Jimmy met up on their 1st Deployment in Germany. We knew back that our bond of friendship created as "Blood Brothers", while listening to Springsteen's "No Surrender" would last a lifetime. They sent me pics of their "angelic" lol barrack escapades, so I search my pics and certainly upload them if found.

When Pat was headed out for "Desert Storm" in 1991, he entrusted us with the few possessions he held dear, until his return. Throughout the years we kept in touch, sharing in his "making rank" of Sargeant, I believe in July 1996.

No one among us could forget we were just 5 years later on 9/11. Our friendship being separated only by the Hudson River at this stage of our lives. We in Kearny, NJ had a birds eye view of the skyline, as Pat of course raised a hand to assist at "Ground Zero."  That's where his "Roots" came in again. 

Thanks to Facebook, Alan and I were fortunate to have reunited with Pat in 2011 and rang in 2012 together in Kearny, NJ. Ironically he was looking for us at the same time.

Since learning of his passing, Alan and I reflected on our discussions with Pat and how we all googled the treatment he first began at the VA in Buffalo, NY, keeping in touch sporadically. Once again Pat's "Roots" allowed him to fight his cancer, as only he would.

One thing is certain. No matter when any of us may have met Pat, our world has lost " A Simple Man", "A Good Man", "A Man of His Word", and a "True Patriot."

R.I.P. "Blood Brother." The Saints. Our Saints of St. Cecilia's have opened up the gates for you, as you take your final step on your "Stairway To Heaven."