Janet Vitt
Pat seemed at peace during my visit in his kitchen just before Memorial Day. He knew the cancer was a threat, but he looked great. He spoke with such pride of his children and grandchildren, and he seemed genuinely happy. It wasn't the first time in recent years that he expressed his gratitude about getting a second chance to appreciate all that he had.
Pat was a godsend to our aunt Mary K, looking after her house when she made the unplanned move to assisted living in Oklahoma. And he made my mother so happy with a surprise visit after she broke her hip. It surprised Pat that my mom recognized him, but she did. "You're my sister's son!" she said as she got a big hug from him.
Last September, he met two of my friends and me at Chicken Annie's as we made a cross-country drive. As we sampled the menu, he gave us the history and lots of other stories. We didn't have a to-the-minute schedule, and I fear he might have waited at the restaurant a while for us, but he lingered long with us.
I loved him, and will miss him, and I am so thankful for the heart-to-heart talks he and I shared in the last 3 or so years.
Eternal peace, Cousin!
Janet Vitt, Sacramento, CA
