Pat was born in Nanty-Glo on March 13, 1951. He died, Sunday, May 17, 2026 at UPMC Shadyside, Pittsburgh. In between, he lived a life full of wonder and adventure. He married Jan, the love of his life and best friend, on February 4, 1980. Together, they raised two magnificent children, daughter, Casey and son, Liam.
Growing up with six siblings, he was never at a loss for a playmate, but often preferred the solitude of the woods and strip mines behind the family home. There he learned the life cycle of forests, studied myriad woodland creatures, perfected pole vaulting with a hawthorn stick over streams, wilderness survival techniques, and the beauty of four seasons. His love of the outdoors led him to serving nine consecutive summers on the aquatic staff at Roaring Run Scout Reservation in Boswell, serving as the Aquatics Director for the last three of those years. The lessons instilled by wonderful parents, excellent siblings, a good family and nature never left him. His life was directed by his Catholic faith, his magnificent wife and children, and the values taught in Boy Scouting.
Scouting was a big part of his life, and he served 57 total years as a Boy Scout and Scouter. He valued the principles enshrined in the Scout Oath and Law and was committed to showing his young men what a good, moral man looks and acts like. He loved every position in Scouting, so long as it involved personal contact with the boys.
He never cared much for school at any level, but sure did a lot of it in spite of himself. He ended up with three Bachelor’s degrees, two Master’s degrees, and several thousands of hours of military training and education courses.
At some point in high school, he believed he had a calling to the Catholic priesthood, so after graduation from Blacklick Valley, he went to a Roman Catholic Seminary in Ohio. After five years there, he discerned that he really wasn’t called to the Priesthood, it was more like a gently murmur than a calling. With that realization, he left the seminary and enlisted in the United States Air Force, and that was when the international adventure part of his story really started! After serving three and a half years as an enlisted man, he was commissioned as an officer. He served another 27 years as an active-duty officer, retiring as a Colonel in 2005.
Pat always smiled when, in retirement, someone would ask him, “where did you serve?”, or “what did you do in the Air Force?”. He (and later his wife and children) moved in service to his beloved Country 27 times in that 30-year career. He had no less than 38 different jobs and duty titles in that same period. That’s why the smile would come when well-meaning people asked a question involving the “where” or “what” of military duties. Military people are the Nation’s nomads and those who have never served just don’t understand that.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday morning, May 22, 2026 at St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana. Inurnment with military honors will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, June 1, 2026 at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville.
Service arrangements are with Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home & Crematory where online condolences may be made by visiting: rbfh.net
