Patrick was my friend, colleague, and mentor. As director and manager of ESSEXLab, we worked closely as a team to keep the show on the road. After Patrick took over as director, we quickly realized our great (mis)fortune at sharing the same name. We tried all kinds of different combinations (Patrick 1 & 2; PJ & Pat; Pat & Hey You) until we finally settled on Pat and Patrick. We knew who was talking about who about 80% of the time, close enough. Patrick was dedicated in his duties as director and as my line manager, quick with a show of support, a kind word, or offering to take something of my plate if he thought I might need it. I always felt that he was in my corner and that if he didn’t have the answer, we’d figure it out together. Patrick made even the dullest of meetings enjoyable. He’d whisk into the room like a whirlwind, a bit flustered then, a with a deep breath telling you exactly what was going on in his world that day or why he was late, with characteristic self-deprecation. Then he’d stop suddenly and ask you how you were; he never failed to do that. Patrick cared a lot for the people around him and was an open book himself. That was part of his charm: you always knew where you stood with Patrick.
I am still in disbelief that Patrick is gone; he leaves such a large hole in his community that it is difficult to accept. I will miss him a great deal, but I am grateful for the chance to have known him and worked with him so closely.
Patrick was my friend, colleague, and mentor. As director and manager of ESSEXLab, we worked closely as a team to keep the show on the road. After Patrick took over as director, we quickly realized our great (mis)fortune at sharing the same name. We tried all kinds of different combinations (Patrick 1 & 2; PJ & Pat; Pat & Hey You) until we finally settled on Pat and Patrick. We knew who was talking about who about 80% of the time, close enough. Patrick was dedicated in his duties as director and as my line manager, quick with a show of support, a kind word, or offering to take something of my plate if he thought I might need it. I always felt that he was in my corner and that if he didn’t have the answer, we’d figure it out together. Patrick made even the dullest of meetings enjoyable. He’d whisk into the room like a whirlwind, a bit flustered then, a with a deep breath telling you exactly what was going on in his world that day or why he was late, with characteristic self-deprecation. Then he’d stop suddenly and ask you how you were; he never failed to do that. Patrick cared a lot for the people around him and was an open book himself. That was part of his charm: you always knew where you stood with Patrick.
I am still in disbelief that Patrick is gone; he leaves such a large hole in his community that it is difficult to accept. I will miss him a great deal, but I am grateful for the chance to have known him and worked with him so closely.
