Obituary

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Patrick grew up in Panama and Palo Alto, California to become a true Renaissance man and artist, who had mastered canvas and clay. He acquired an impressive knack for turning life into an art form, and like his Irish mother who was an interior designer, he never knew a stranger, making friends with everyone he met and bringing a smile to their face.

If there was one thing that defined Patrick, it was his entrepreneurial spirit. He had an ability to find opportunity around every corner and act on it. Early on Patrick became very adept at fixing things including a small El Toro sailboat to which he gave an immaculately beautiful paint and varnish job. He sold it to buy cars, selling them all at a profit. With this income and working a job or two while in high school, he saved his money to buy his dream car - a yellow 1956 Porsche coupe.

An art student at Foothills Junior College and UCLA, he obtained a BFA at UC San Diego in 1970. After graduation, he traveled on a motorcycle for several years in Europe finding friends, places to stay and working at whatever labor jobs funded the trip. With his friendly cheerfulness language was never a barrier. Growing up in an international environment, Pat’s Swedish father spoke 7 seven languages and built a thriving business in Panama City, Panama.

In 1972, he met the love of his life, Roberta, in a small town in Connecticut. For a few years, Pat worked as an office manager while pursuing oil painting, his first love, held art showings, and illustrated several books. In 1975, they packed up everything along with their 30 ft Baltic Cruiser sailboat and moved to Vancouver, BC, Canada. Pat’s many adventures there included building a house on a remote island, commercial fishing with a new work boat, hand logging and building prefab log homes on islands. He could find success in any field he ventured. In 1984, they moved back to California after their two sons were born. Reinventing himself, once again, he sold navigation aids to the offshore industry, life insurance and became a first-class stockbroker. Pat continued to multitask before and after work with art exhibits/galleries and painting throughout San Diego and many state and national parks. After an investment broker awards trip to NYC and visiting the Metropolitan Museum, he could not let his love of art take second place to a job he hated. Pat returned to creating art and became a master of plein air landscape and portraiture painting using oils, watercolors, pastels and/or pencil, as well as bronze sculpting. During this time, he always found and created tools and tips that helped him. He invented a specialized plein air umbrella for painters that he then successfully marketed and sold to the art community. With good friends, Pat developed a local art studio called Highland Valley Studios in Ramona, CA where he invited nationally recognized artists and sculptors to teach workshops to local aspiring artists. He was often out in the field mentoring local students as well as facilitating life drawing classes. At the same time, he partnered with his wife to successfully launch and market a wholesale gift company called Little Critterz.

Through it all, Pat remained an exuberant husband, father, brother, and grandfather. His unique sense of humor and unending selflessness created an atmosphere where laughter and love were always abundant. As we say our final goodbyes, let us not remember Patrick with tears, but a grateful heart for the humor and joy he brought to our lives. We love you Pat. Rest in peace and thank you for the unforgettable memories that will keep us smiling until we meet again.