Uncle Mike’s 80th with Patrick and Mary — with Mary and Patrick

— with Rebecca Akers and Patrick

I remember as a child my parents going to his “dinners”. He would come home to Milwaukee and host an adults only meal at Grandma Nora’s house. One time it was a Hawaiian theme and it included eel and octopus. Needless to say as kids we didn’t feel that we had missed anything.  When I was a senior in high school I went to New York on a class trip. Somehow I managed to meet him there and he gave me a short tour of Greenwich Village. I probably embarrassed him as I had made a suit for my trip. Sewing wise it turned out great but it was the totally wrong fabric for the look. Uncle Pat was always very up to date in his outfits. One time he was in town for a funeral and he cornered my brother Gary and gave him dating advice. Since Gary had a girl for practically every night of the week we thought this was hilarious. With him living in Seattle, it did give Grandma Nora a place to visit. She loved to travel but didn’t have the funds to do much on her own. She loved those visits.

I will so miss Patrick. Many memories of our time with him. He always had a smile on his face and a great laugh. When I was a young girl he use to take me downtown to admire the Milwaukee building's architecture.  I always felt so special with him. He loved my mom, his Aunt Patsy and visited often. 🙏🙏🙏🕊🕊🕊 May he rest in peace and party with the rest of the McCormick's in heven.

Story 2:  my dad passed away and Patrick and Van came for the funeral and stayed with my mom for a little while.  It was obviously a stressful time for mom and I think it was good for her that they provided a distraction staying with her.  If you knew Pat and Van, you also knew they liked a little buzz now and then. They tried to get mom to join them…. She declined. Must be something in my Midwest suburban roots that finds it funny that my then 60+ uncle and his partner were trying to talk my mom into smoking a joint and she was annoyed because they kept asking her 🤣

Story 1: My dad loved to cook. Patrick and Van loved to cook. Patrick and Van came to visit. They bought so much food for an extravagant dinner, my dad was in heaven even though I don’t remember exactly what they made 😁.  Van wanted to make creme brûlée and they had to go out and buy the little ramekins to bake them in but of course they had no intention of taking them home so my parents wound up with more food and probably other kitchen gadgets than they had before Pat and Van visited!

Unfortunately, I did not know Patrick very well.  I was married to John McCormick and I think we only saw him at Irish fest a couple of times.  Knowing the McCormick Clan, he wa a beautiful person and loving heart.  My love goes out to the family as I know Patick will be missed by all. Rest in Peace.  Colleen McCormick/Las Vegas, NV.❤️🙏🏼

May 2023. Family gathered in Las Vegas to say goodbyes to brother John McCormick who died on May 24th. Also to give loving hugs to his wonderful wife  Colleen. All in one house, the stories went to early hours.  All of a sudden the doorbell rang and it was Bay View, Milwaukee/Seattle’s Patrick.  He was on his way back from an East Coast return of ashes promised during the Pandemic and would be continuing on a trip to Arizona, promised to a friend to assist in the final days of a spouse.  I didn’t know we had such a selfless hospice force in the family.  Rest In Peace and Thank you, Patrick McCormick. 

Patrick was somewhere in his transition from New York  to Seattle, I believe, and visiting Milwaukee. It was summer 1970 and my mother wanted to do some decorative updates to our house. Patrick agreed to help and became the lead “designer”. He came every day for weeks often sleeping on a couch in our house. One day he asked us when was the last time we watched sunrise over Lake Michigan?  What an idea! We admitted we never had. He told us he was surprised as we lived only four blocks away.   The very next morning before daybreak he led my sisters and me to the steep hill over looking Lake Michigan and a greatly increased appreciation for “Mr Sunshine/Patrick” was born.