Wednesday, May 17, 2023
I am deeply saddened by the passing of my good friend.
In the twenty years that I knew him, Patrick's mind never ceased to astonish me. He was a voracious reader, well-known to the Waterloo Public Library where he would borrow three or four books at a time, which often wouldn't suffice to get him through a week. Although his favourite genre was the mystery novel, he had a tremendous breadth of interest. He read deeply on animal behaviour, the history of Christianity, sports, and many other topics.
Although he was trained as an historian of modern France, Patrick was remarkably learned in all of European history. He could talk as easily about the Russian Revolution as he could about the French Revolution. He read almost every book of his fellow history professors at the University of Waterloo as not only a kind gesture, but as part of his insatiable thirst for knowledge. His lectures were well-crafted masterpieces which, because they were always infused with the latest research, never grew old. Patrick was the very model of a professor.
Patrick led his life according to the social gospel, firmly believing that those who had more means at their disposal had a moral duty to help those less fortunate. He was exceedingly generous with friends, family, and charities.
One of his greatest traits was that he never fell for the trappings of consumerism. He cared little about what kind of car he drove (although, he did trade in his SUV for a sedan when his dogs became older and couldn't jump in as easily). Patrick always took much more pleasure in the company of his friends over a meal than in any material goods. And all the better if there was a coupon involved.
His pugs held a special place in his heart, but Patrick had a deep and abiding love for all animals, recognizing in them vulnerable co-habitants of our planet who enhanced life on Earth. For as long as I can remember, he 'adopted' WWF animals for my children at Christmas time, something they looked forward to every year. His therapy dog visits brought joy to countless seniors - and to the dogs too, who, according to Patrick, began to get excited when they would turn into the driveway of the facility.
Patrick would often tell me over the years that when he met St. Peter at the pearly gates, he was going to offer him feedback about the world God created. He planned to tell him that, in general, he thought the world was a remarkable place, full of wonders of creation, but that next time God should make dogs live longer. I hope he did so.
There is now such a void for me on Thursday mornings, when Patrick and I would go for coffee. I will miss his tales of growing up in an apartment in Detroit, going to his first Tigers game, of being a student during the Vietnam War era, of moving to Paris with Mary Helen as a young married couple to research at the Bibliotheque Nationale, of being a father to Dan and Sara, his year at Princeton as a visiting professor, and many others from his fascinating life.
Sara and Dan - I am very sorry for your loss. Your father was a wonderful man.
Rest in Peace, dear friend.
