In the early 80’s I decided to “do” something different. I left So. California, my family and friends, packed up my children and moved to St. Louis, MO. I was recently divorced and starting a new life. A key factor was the company I worked for had an office in St. Louis and I had a job there! I settled first in a very small apartment in Washington, MO. I traveled about 50 miles each way to work. Compared to traffic in So. California it was a piece of cake! It was a lot of empty highway so I had a CB in my car. To pass the time each day I chatted with others driving the highway. It wasn’t long before I met Pat O’Connor…the Wanderer. I think he was “intrigued” by me. I was “California Girl”. One thing I’ve found out over the years is that most people who’ve never met a “true” Californian or been to California have a stereotype of the “typical” California girl. They think we go surfing every single day, are tanned, blue-eyed blondes like so many TV. shows portray and have lots of money. Well, for those that know me…about the only thing I can claim is the blue-eyes! Many of those that I talked to thought I was pretty courageous and “gutsy” for moving long-distance with two young children!
I can’t remember when I actually met Pat face-to-face, but I think we might have stopped along the highway one day just to say that we’d met! Now one of the things that you should know about Pat is he was a happily married man with 4 children at home! His oldest son was a little older than my daughter, Kim but his daughter was pretty close to her age. His youngest son was just a little younger than my son, Nathan. His wife, Barb is a jewel! She welcomed me to their home and to their family and never questioned our relationship! Pat at times became my “Guardian Angel” and there were a few times I really needed one! I had a boyfriend at the time, but he turned out to be a louse many times over! Pat just listened! At one point I ended up in the hospital for 28 days in traction, my kids were at their babysitters until my Dad came to pick them up. Let me tell you 28 days in the hospital are NOT fun! Quite a few mornings Pat brought me an egg biscuit from McDonald’s on his way to work! That really hit the spot! Then there was the time that Pat came with me to “give” my boyfriend all his things when I found out he had been cheating! Talk about a friend and going above and beyond friendship!! He also helped me move a few times…from the apartment in Washington, to a house in Gray Summit and then to my last apartment in Pacific. Finally, a few years later when I returned to So. California, Pat was right there again…pitching in and helping!
Now I didn’t always make him work! He invited me to his home several times. He loved to show off his latest Ford project! Pat LOVED Ford trucks or anything FORD…the older the better! He was always so proud to show me what he had done to his latest one! Barb fed us all and we had some fun times! I also invited Pat and his son to a game in St. Louis courtesy of tickets from my work! I also had him and Barb over for dinner to repay their hospitality. I can’t really explain our relationship. I guess you could say that it was almost like a brother-sister thing. One thing I can say is that I always envied Pat and his relationship with his wife and their children!
I think it was 10 or 15 years ago when I made a trip back to St. Louis to visit a girlfriend there and help her and her family with a move to a new house. Pat and I met at Wendy’s for a hamburger and then spent a few hours at the Arboretum in Pacific. It was like no time had passed! We had kept in touch, but nothing on a regular basis! The last few years have been better with the internet! We’ve sent jokes back and forth and kept each other updated on what’s been going on in our lives. For the past six months or so, Pat has been struggling with health issues, but kept on fighting to get better. He thought he was on the road to recovery, or at least it sounded like it in the last e-mail that I received from him. It’s ironic that the last e-mail I sent to Pat was “Flowers for You” about giving someone flowers while they are on earth, instead of waiting to put flowers on their grave. I received an e-mail yesterday from Pat’s wife, Barb, letting me know that Pat had passed away. I was truly shocked and saddened. Heaven has surely welcomed a deserving angel into their midst.
Pat…rest in peace. You will be missed by so many!
Patrick O’Connor
Aug, 21, 1944 – June 14, 2006
A wonderful husband, loving father and a great friend!
I can’t remember when I actually met Pat face-to-face, but I think we might have stopped along the highway one day just to say that we’d met! Now one of the things that you should know about Pat is he was a happily married man with 4 children at home! His oldest son was a little older than my daughter, Kim but his daughter was pretty close to her age. His youngest son was just a little younger than my son, Nathan. His wife, Barb is a jewel! She welcomed me to their home and to their family and never questioned our relationship! Pat at times became my “Guardian Angel” and there were a few times I really needed one! I had a boyfriend at the time, but he turned out to be a louse many times over! Pat just listened! At one point I ended up in the hospital for 28 days in traction, my kids were at their babysitters until my Dad came to pick them up. Let me tell you 28 days in the hospital are NOT fun! Quite a few mornings Pat brought me an egg biscuit from McDonald’s on his way to work! That really hit the spot! Then there was the time that Pat came with me to “give” my boyfriend all his things when I found out he had been cheating! Talk about a friend and going above and beyond friendship!! He also helped me move a few times…from the apartment in Washington, to a house in Gray Summit and then to my last apartment in Pacific. Finally, a few years later when I returned to So. California, Pat was right there again…pitching in and helping!
Now I didn’t always make him work! He invited me to his home several times. He loved to show off his latest Ford project! Pat LOVED Ford trucks or anything FORD…the older the better! He was always so proud to show me what he had done to his latest one! Barb fed us all and we had some fun times! I also invited Pat and his son to a game in St. Louis courtesy of tickets from my work! I also had him and Barb over for dinner to repay their hospitality. I can’t really explain our relationship. I guess you could say that it was almost like a brother-sister thing. One thing I can say is that I always envied Pat and his relationship with his wife and their children!
I think it was 10 or 15 years ago when I made a trip back to St. Louis to visit a girlfriend there and help her and her family with a move to a new house. Pat and I met at Wendy’s for a hamburger and then spent a few hours at the Arboretum in Pacific. It was like no time had passed! We had kept in touch, but nothing on a regular basis! The last few years have been better with the internet! We’ve sent jokes back and forth and kept each other updated on what’s been going on in our lives. For the past six months or so, Pat has been struggling with health issues, but kept on fighting to get better. He thought he was on the road to recovery, or at least it sounded like it in the last e-mail that I received from him. It’s ironic that the last e-mail I sent to Pat was “Flowers for You” about giving someone flowers while they are on earth, instead of waiting to put flowers on their grave. I received an e-mail yesterday from Pat’s wife, Barb, letting me know that Pat had passed away. I was truly shocked and saddened. Heaven has surely welcomed a deserving angel into their midst.
Pat…rest in peace. You will be missed by so many!
Patrick O’Connor
Aug, 21, 1944 – June 14, 2006
A wonderful husband, loving father and a great friend!
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