From refiner to definer.

My heartfelt condolences to the Kennedy clan. Pat will be sadly missed and leaves a tremendous legacy of vision, integrity and philanthropy.

He showed us why PI is universally constant. And fiercely independent.

Slainte x

I've been working with PI since right after my graduation, through getting engaged, married, and getting my first apartment. And I kept working at Pat's company through moving cross-country, getting our amazing dog, and buying our first house. And I kept at it, and while I was still working at OSIsoft, had both of my incredible children. And I continue today to work with PI, now at AVEVA. It's amazing to think how Pat's company has been such a huge part of my adult life.
I'm so grateful to him for creating such an incredible legacy, and for touching the lives of all of us. Thank you, Pat, for everything. 

My condolences to the Kennedy family.

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Pat.
Over the years I had several times the opportunity to interact with Pat and always enjoyed the conversations. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten.

Francis

Pat Kennedy was a talented and visionary inventor and business man. I am still impressed with the culture he wanted for his company.
My sincere condoleances to his family.
Silvana

Pat was a rare combination of personable attributes like kindness, modesty, generosity, humor and inspirational professional traits like his leadership, a visionary and innovator.
I am deeply saddened that we lost a remarkable person. My sincerest condolences to the Kennedy family.

Conocimos al Sr Pat hace muchos años en nuestra primera visita a Estados Unidos. Nos dio la oportunidad de dar espacio en sus oficinas, y desde ahi conocimos a una de sus empresas Lit san leandro. Estamos muy agradecido del apoyo sin buscar nada a cambio como tambien haber conocido a su familia,  uno de mis socios tiene una muy buena amistad y que siempre nos han apoyado. Lamento mucho su fallecimiento.  sorry i write in spanish since i wanted to say what feel

My heartfelt condolences to Patricia and the entire Kennedy family. 

There are so few people over the course of your life that aren't related to you, but you care about deeply. Patrick is that person to me and to Davis Street.  My heart is very heavy because we have lost such a dear friend. 

Patrick was that wise counsel and a dedicated soldier for Davis Street. He supported me-my ideas and he gave sage advice, and supported Davis Streets families every step of the way. There are so many stories to share! 

One of the great conundrums for organizations like Davis Street is that we serve the poor and the most disenfranchised, but often, they cannot support us when we most need it. When families are no longer dependent on our services, they will often - most generously - come back to volunteer to support our activities. And we are grateful for that support. But there have been times in my 31 years at the helm of Davis Street when the only thing that would help was a lifeline - Patrick was that and more. A piece of equipment may have broken, payday may have occurred a few days before the arrival of a government reimbursement check -- there have been many anxious days as the CEO of Davis Street. I am extremely grateful that we got through those tough times because of Patrick.
 
He will be missed!

Pat founded such a nice company as a very unique place to work. It felled like a family. Customers and employees are always very important to him. He was an very inspiring person and I have very nice memory's over the many years. Seeing him on stage at events was always refreshing and mind blowing how he was able to communicate information. This is really a big loos. Deep condolences to the whole family in this hard time.

Sad to learn of the passing of Dr. Pat Kennedy, founder of OSISoft. He was industrial IoT before it was cool. I remember him telling me that he started off doing consulting work in chemical processing plants, creating a software package as part of his service. As his business evolved, people were “asking for my software and not interested in my consulting”. :-). That was the start of OSISoft.

He grew the OSISoft business to become THE dominant industrial player in real time data analytics software with not only a great product, but outstanding customer service as well as a corporate culture focussed on trust, teamwork and integrity. People started at OSISoft and stayed. Customers bought Pi, and stayed.

As a fellow Kansan, I was proud too that he came from Kansas….small town goes big time. RIP Pat.

Pat was a visionary who will be missed but never forgotten, because OSI is a place to remember.

My condolences to the Kennedy family.

RIP Pat. Your contributions to the field are immeasurable, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. I had the honor of working with Pat, and I can say without hesitation that he was a source of inspiration for me in creating two industrial software companies ( Timeseer.AI and TrendMiner ). Pat, you are a Legend.

In Memory of Dr. Pat Kennedy, A Giant of the Information Age
By:
Pasha Ahmad
April 25, 2023


He was a giant of the Information Age.
A pioneer of the Process Control days.
Prescient in manner of a Grecian sage.
He led data application in so many ways.

So you ask me what was his claim to fame?
What legacy survives that will remain alive?
PI Process Book for one, Datalink I can name.
But my gaze is deeper; what made him thrive?

Tis people he brought  and led them so well,
“No Customer Left Behind”, we hear the knell.
Empowered his people and touched their heart,
So many returned who once decided to part!

From an idea in Refining, Oil Systems was born,
From a customer in Hawaii, the vision was enlarged.
With appearance of the PC, OSI was transformed.
He navigated its growth with compassion and art.

Never was shy of giving everyone his due.
Listened both to the plebian and the Guru.
In sales impasse, he searched for the clue,
That satisfied the customer to return t’s true!

Today I mourn my benefactor and friend,
From “pen-chart days” that used to trend.
From Bailey he arrived with Len and Bud Keis
Left the management at Sohio much edified.


Years later I joined the inspired few
A dedicated team that made the crew.
With a captain again as never will I see.
With a purpose I roamed beyond the seas.

I am sad he has crossed to the thither side
Of Time’s brutal and unyielding tide.
“Even such is Time, that takes in trust
Our youth and joys and all we have,
And pays us but with earth and dust.”

My condolences to the Kennedy family. I appreciated how much Pat contributed in time and investment to his community. I experienced him as a sincere and thoughtful person. I didn't know him well, yet I remember the day he showed me a photo of the "Truth is Beauty statue"---and shared his plans to install the statue in the new tech center. I feel he saw potential in people and places and made his hometown better for many people. Thank you, Pat.

I was saddened by the news of Pat's passing. Condolences to Patty, Jenny, Mike and Kathy.

What a privilege to be a part of the OSIsoft family for many years. The company was unlike any other. Pat created a place where everyone had the opportunity to contribute to the greater goal of building quality products that our customers would love to use. After 12 years at OSIsoft, I left in 2011 to chase other dreams. My career has been built around this amazing company and its products. I still enjoy finding new ways to adapt their products in solving difficult challenges.

During my tenure at OSIsoft, several times I asked Pat about how to handle a difficult situation, he simply told me to "Do the right thing." It wasn't a matter of money, or time. It was a matter of making it right for the customer.

Pat will be missed by many. His influence in the process control world will be felt for many years to come. I will miss him. Rest in Peace.

Pat was a rare man. He was someone who used his life for good and not for gain. I will miss him to be sure. But more importantly, I will try to follow in his footsteps.

"Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you" By Shannon L. Alder

I am reading beautiful stories about you, and for me it is a way to getting to know a great person and leader. Rest in Peace. 

Down to earth, humble, curious and awesome, a few of the attributes that come to mind when thinking of Pat.

A couple of Pat's phrases that are ever present for me
- Treat company money like it is your own
- Focus on the customer, not competitor features.

Pat's attention to detail
- Questioning how an aspect of the Ping Interface worked and identifying an issue
- Interest and focus when exploring new industries, getting asked great questions.

Never had a lot to say to Pat, didn't seem to matter, he always shared a smile :)

Sincere condolences to Patty, Kathy, Jenny and Mike.

We are saddened to hear of your loss. You are a fantastic person, I'm so lucky to have met him in this life.

Dr. J. Patrick Kennedy will be missed but never forgotten. My deepest condolences to the whole family.

May he rest in peace, a great man, with an incredible sense of humor, any place would light up with his presence.
A kind and very nice man in every way.
Infinite thanks for having met a great person.
In each ray of sun or shine of the stars, there we will remember you, dear Pat.

My deepest condolences to the Kennedy family. Pat was a kind, generous man. I enjoyed working for him. He leaves behind a lovely legacy.

My deepest sympathies go out to the Kennedy family. Pat was a brilliant person, visionary, and human being. RIP

RIP Dr Kennedy. OSI PI is a revolutionary product that helped multiple industries and it also made millions for customers who implemented it. Dr. Kennedy was also a smart businessman and designed the product in such a way that it was hard to get data out of it to third parties. And it was also a clever move to sell it yo aveva for 5 billion for a product that had probably 200 or so mullion in revenues.

I worked for Pat's OSIsoft for the past 7 years, and of course met him personally on my orientation in San Leandro. I was directly amazed by how humble and full of laughter he was. He was a leader and an inspiring professional, and treated us with fairness. He spoke to our minds as well as to our hearts

I knew Pat for more than 45 years. He was a friend and mentor but most of all he was an open, sharing individual that gave back as much or more than he received. I will miss him!!!

My deepest sympathies to Patty his loving wife and his children Jennie, Kathy and Mike.

Rest in Peace PAT!!!

I first met Pat in 1997 when I left Bailey Canada to join Pat and the OSIsoft team. It was a great experience, which I will never forget, working with Pat, sharing customer stories and ideas. I always looked forward to Pat's talks at the OSIsoft User Conferences. Pat was always a great inspiration and will be greatly missed.

My deepest condolences to Patty, Jenny, Kathy, Mike and the family.

Pat will not be forgotten by me or anyone else whom he met, for he never met a stranger. I started at OSIsoft in Aug 2000 and cannot thank Pat enough for the opportunity to work for such an amazing organization for over 20 years. Pat had his stamp on the entire company from engineering to marketing to support to sales and most importantly to Pat to customers for he always put customers first. He would always say, take care of the customer and the rest will take care of itself. It was so refreshing to work for a company that was so customer focused. His 9 tenants of OSIsoft are the most successful and virtuous way to run a business. 

In all he did it was evident to me that OSIsoft was never about technology or business or innovation it was about people. Pat's ultimate goal was to make people's lives better, from employees to partners to customers. He touched so many and will forever be missed.

My deepest condolences to Patty, Jenny, Kathy and Mike, you will be in my prayers.

Grant Eternal Rest Unto Him O'Lord
And May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him

A name and legacy will live as long as PI system exist. It was shocking to hear of Pat's passing.

Although I am fairly new to OSIsoft compared to many of you here sharing your thoughts. We all have been touched by you Pat, one way or another. When I first joined OSIsoft in 2020, I was blessed to be given the opportunity to work for a great company. Your leadership, care for employees and passion for the company shows no boundaries.

The legacy lives!

My condolences to his family and friends.

It is hard to believe that Pat did not win his health battle - I suspect it was one of the few non-victories in his life. He was an industry icon with a compassionate heart and a sense of humor that was always ready with a quick laugh. My deepest sympathies to Patty, Jenny, Kathy and Mike. 

I am saddened about the passing of Pat. An amazing man who defined an industry. My condolences to the family, and to his extended family of OSIsoft. I remember my employee orientation in July 2016 where Pat and Jenny came to meet the new employees and ask about where they came from and what country/city/role they will have with OSIsoft. I was impressed with the sincerity they had wanting to know about you, and when they said “Welcome”, I felt it wasn’t just a welcome-to-the-company but more of a welcome-to-our-family-of-employees.

I don’t think Pat’s legacy is simply founding OSIsoft. I think his true legacy is in the relationships he cultivated with his employees, partners, and customers. He grew a business by helping his employees grow, and helping others grow their own businesses.

On a personal note, I owe so much to this man. As I was approaching 50, I was in a dead-end job with a refinery in the New Orleans area. Then I got a great opportunity to move to Houston as a PI Developer for another company. My career and job satisfaction witnessed phenomenal growth, including a brief stint as an OSIsoft employee. Along the way, I got married and eventually moved to Oregon. None of that would have happened if I had not stumbled upon this thing called PI. It changed my life.

Thank you, Pat. God bless you. May you rest in peace.

It was very sad news to hear of Pat's passing. Our condolences to Patty, Jenny, Kathy and Mike. Pat will be missed by so many though his legacy will live on through the thousands of lives he has touched. Whenever you were around the Kennedy family they always made you feel welcome and like part of the family.

There are so many Pat stories and I love reading them all! He was a visionary, a leader and my favorite, he was a teacher. Early in my career at OSIsoft I went to a utility meeting with Pat. At this time it was a new industry for me. There were a few topics I was unfamiliar with and as we grabbed a coffee afterwards, before Pat had another meeting I asked Pat about them. He hadn't realized utilities was new to me. Pat immediately put his teacher hat on and went through each topic. I was genuinely interested to learn and Pat sensed this and wanted to make certain he taught me. Before he was done another OSIsoft Exec came to get Pat so he wouldn't be late to his next meeting. Pat told them to wait, finished explaining the topics and when he felt comfortable I had it, then he left for his next meeting.

That is the Pat I will remember and the Pat I will miss. I always thought I would see Pat again. Rest in Peace Pat.

Thank you for the inspiration, Pat. Your legend will live on, not only in the technology you created, but in the hundreds of lives you’ve touched with the humility and principles you stood for..

RIP, Pat. And my sincere condolences to your family that carries your loving memories.

After just learning of the tragic passing of Pat Kennedy, it is with a very heavy heart that I share my gratitude for the time spent with this incredible man. Pat was a true visionary and game changer. He taught me to be curious, and open my mind to new possibilities. It was a great honor for me to join OSIsoft as an Enterprise Sales Executive for Oil & Gas in January 2006, and work with Pat to develop a strategy to bring in EA customers #2, and #3 in my first year at OSIsoft. Pat also taught me patience, and not to force things. Once, when I was upset and apologetic that one of my deals slipped between Christmas into the new year, the told me: “don’t worry, now I don’t have to pay taxes on the deal for another year”- very refreshing from a CEO!

Pat always brought out the best in people. Sometimes by teasing or challenging people, often by leading by example. Pat was so passionate about speaking with customers. His curiosity led to gaining knowledge and insight to the customers pain points, but in way that was truly empathic, and never “sale-sy”. He delighted in hearing customer stories at PI World. He could remember details of presentations made by customers decades before. He truly drew energy from these customers! Pat taught me to “sell by telling stories”. Pat’s enthusiasm was unbelievably contagious.

In addition to being an evangelist for the PI Infrastructure, Pat was often a jokester. Not just the jokes he would tell, but since he also he got to know people very well, Pat would sometimes needle people about silly things that he knew from the relationships formed with his employees. Pat knew that I have an irrational fear of snakes, and often ribbed me about it, making for funny scenarios with customers. He loved to laugh!

By his open demeanor, and lack of “showy” actions, and Pat built trust. He encouraged people- employees, customers, partners and peers in the industry, even “competitors”, to stretch and think outside of the box. We all grew as a result.

I had the honor of working with Pat and our Japanese investors, Mitsui and SoftBank. Pat was always incredibly humble, nonetheless, one of the Mitsui members on the OSIsoft Board of Directors told me that: “… meeting Pat Kennedy was like meeting Jesus Christ…”.

Despite all of Pat’s achievements and his success in growing OSIsoft, Pat was never arrogant. He remained unpretentious and humble at all times. Pat was a generous man- with his time, with his financial support of many endeavors, and with his attention to others. Not just as an entrepreneur, but also as a husband, father and grandfather. He openly expressed his love for his family, and the extended family within the company as true friend. Pat will be sorely missed by all.

On a personal level, I will miss Pat tremendously, as he was a mentor, muse, and friend. I have so much gratitude for all that I have learned from my time spent with Pat. Thank you!

Pat’s legacy will live on! Not just the PI System, but everyone that Pat touched!

My sincere condolences to Patty, Jenny, Kathy and Mike, and to Pat’s entire family. No time on earth is enough for the people we love.

Not many people get to enjoy the experience of working for someone they admire, respect, and trust  but also LIKE. I did. I worked for Pat - friend, mentor, role model, visionary. A brilliant and  compassionate leader with unwavering ethics and morals. 

I joined Oil Systems in January 1990. My first big project was to organize our first Users Conference, held near Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. When I asked Pat what my budget was, I was told "whatever it takes to do it right". I was a bit nervous as similar events at other companies often devolved into gripe sessions. I need not have worried - customers loved the company, the product and truly enjoyed talking with each other. And, of course, with Pat. 

Over the years I worked many more trade shows and conferences with Pat. It was amazing and humbling to see his interactions with so many customers, vendors, friends .. and even competitors. There were times he did not move more than two feet during a reception. But, he never seemed to tire as he drew energy from being around his customers.

I  learned other lessons from Pat, such as
- Treat money like it is your own
- Make a product that people want to use, treat customers fairly and the rest will work out.
- Hire smart people, give them interesting work to do and get out of their way.

Patty, Jenny, Kathy & Mike - my deepest sympathy. Thank you for sharing him with us for so many years. 

Romie Shield

Pat was an incredible man. He was humble, generous, kind, hilarious and brilliant. He built an amazing company and brought so many wonderful people together and made them into a family, while at the same time sharing his own family with them. I eagerly took advantage of this because the Kennedy clan is something special. I have so many fond memories of being out to lunch with Pat, Patty, Kathy and Mike and thinking my sides were going to split from laughing so hard.
I also have so many important and lasting friendships because of my time at OSIsoft and that directly stems from the company that Pat built. He built an empire. He built a place where people wanted to go, to grow and to thrive. Where people could bring their best selves to work but also build meaningful and lasting relationships. I hope he took pride in knowing how truly special that was.
I have missed my daily interactions with Pat these last few years. He was such a joy to be around, even when he was pretending to be grumpy. I loved trying to needle him to get him to smile and more often than not I could.
You will be missed Pat. You were a spectacular and special person. I’m truly grateful for the time I got to spend with you, the chance to get to know you, your wonderful family and the chance to build the amazing friendships I have with those I worked with while at OSIsoft. May you rest easy knowing you had a tremendous impact on so many lives and your legacy will live on forever. Sending love, support and hugs to the family. I’m here if you need anything.

This is such sad news to hear. Our love and prayers go out to Patty, Jenny, Kathy, and Mike. I am so proud that I had the honor to be part of the OSIsoft family for 29 years. In the business world, Pat will be remembered for the company and software that he created. But for me, his legacy will always be the extended FAMILY that he created that made those artifacts possible.

As I read through these tributes, countless fond memories spring forth about so many of my relatives that I recognize. His focus on caring for the customer extended that family far beyond San Leandro too. Our family has always included our customers. So much so, that we even held annual family reunions with them.

Thank You Pat! Thank you for blessing me with the opportunity to be part of your legacy, part of your family. May God Bless you as you pass through the gates of Heaven. May God Bless your Family too.

It's been a tough day trying to process this sad news. Pat meant the world to so many of us. I was fortunate to witness what servant leadership looked like before it was a hashtag. I will never forget him flying down with a leg cast & crutches to help me close a deal, or Pat driving me to the airport after I resigned and wished me well. The last few years, Pat has been my mentor, giving me succinct, non-PC and honest advice. I will treasure forever all the wisdom from Pat, as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and a one-of-a-kind human! I will miss him teasing me for 20 years that he would hire more Trojans (he knew I am a die-hard Bruin). My heart is broken with this huge loss and condolences to the Kennedy family. "Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard but always near. Still loved, still missed and very dear."

Pat was an amazing person, and I feel very honored to have found the OSIsoft family several years ago. He created an incredible legacy, both as a person and with his organization. I'm in awe of everything he stood for, the legacy he built and what he taught us over the years. Thank you Pat for everything you did.

Pat was an amazing leader of a family company who always ensured "family" was the key element. He didn't care if we won every deal, if we beat the competition to the market in every instance....he cared that everyone in the company was engaged and personally invested in our work and he believed in our potential. I'll never forget that when I started in 2016, he said that we don't talk about our competitors and how we're better than them. We should always just talk about ourselves and how we can improve the lives of our customers.

In so many ways, WE at OSIsoft were Pat's customers. He always looked out for us and he enabled me to change my family's life by moving to California and starting a new chapter. I'll forever be grateful for his contributions and wish all the best for his family.

As many of us who knew him, I’m so saddened to hear of Pat’s passing. I’ve yet to meet such a passionate visionary leader as Pat. Pat was not your typical owner/CEO, he was always down-to-earth, willing to listen, responsive, interested in understanding how he could support you, a customer, new market opportunities or closing a deal (there were many). Being out of HQ I was often the “crash-test-dummy” (in a positive way:-) trying out different sales ideas of which we learned a lot. He subtly challenged you to always do your best for the customer and the company. One of the best pieces of advice he gave me was to “never manage people”(LOL). I will surely miss his advice, his pings about what customers are doing, prospective opportunities or new initiatives going on in the energy market. I’m so grateful for his influence on my career and will cherish the memories. What an enormous legacy he left for all of us to aspire! Sending my love and sincere condolences to Patty and the entire family…may God’s peace comfort you. Every day is a gift!

met Pat in 1994 when I left Setpoint Inc to work for the "dark side". He was a game changer, my first work was installing PI on a Windows server for Westvaco, selling Yield Accounting software layered on PI to Celanese, ultimately, we can all thank him for the setting the bar so high. His input and guidance help Salumunek and Associates get on the map.

Ask yourself, where would you be without this man and the products he had the vision for.

To the family, my heartfelt condolences.

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Pat Kennedy, the founder and CEO of OSIsoft. Pat was a visionary leader who created a company that is known for its innovative products and its strong culture.

I was fortunate to join the company when I was just out of school. I learned so much and made lifelong friends.

One of the things that I admired the most about Pat was his humility. Even though he was the founder of the company, he was always approachable and down-to-earth. I ran into him a few times in the cafe and customer learning area, he would often start chatting with me and open to hear anything I have to say about my job and the company.

Pat will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He was a true leader, and he made a lasting impact on the company and the community. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Pat was a true friend, colleague and mentor.  We first met when he and I both worked at Shell Development in Emeryville, CA. For many years after, we continued to meet at Conferences even when he worked for Taylor Instruments and after starting Oil Systems including the huge Asilomar Conference on data compression: a highly controversial subject, especially with Dupont, but Pat won. He invited me to join OSIsoft in 2001 and simply said, find ways to get PI into the Power market. We worked together to enter the new market of collecting high speed time synchronized data. Around 2008 he gave me a new book called "Perfect Power". It struck a nerve in both of us and he went on to support a startup company developing microgrid software. We flew together in his new single engine Bonanza and he was hoping to get is Pilot license. I always respected his thoughtful advice. His entire family of Patty, Kathy, Jenny, and Mike were always good friends. 

A very interesting coincidence happened between Pat and me. We both worked on the same Hydrocracker control system for Mobil Oil in Torrence, CA., but about ten years apart. He was at Taylor and I was at Systems Control. We never agreed on who had the best controller. This was always a special bond we had.

We will miss him very much.

Chuck

I still have memories of when I met Pat. I was in San Leandro learning about PI as we had just purchased ProSmart, the 1st sale outside of WEYERHAEUSER. As a customer and user of PI, it did not take me long to know that one day I would come to work for you. You created an environment where people truly cared about the customers and wanted to support and assist whenever needed. You created an environment where I wanted to work and a product that I wanted to work with. For this I thank you for taking a chance on me and letting me join the family in 1999. I say family as that is how it felt, my first email I received as an employee was two words it said "Welcome home".

I send my deepest condolences to Patty, Jenny, Kathy, Mike, and the extended family.

Pat created an amazing company with an amazing culture. It was clear from my first day at OSIsoft that the culture was cultivated by Pat. Thank you, Pat, for providing thousands of us with a place to learn, grow, and help make the world a bit better.

My condolences to the Kennedy family.

Who knew that getting people to look at their data could be exciting? Pat managed to build this enthusiasm in everyone he talked to. He created a new industry doing this, with Oil Systems in the lead. So many customers had their own ideas on what to do next; Pat rarely had to tell them what to do. That goes for me too. I worked for Pat for many years and he never once told me what to work on. The job was to do right by customers. If I proposed something he disagreed with, he would give me a spirited argument but he would ultimately let me find the path on my own. He was a visionary, an inspiring leader, and a good friend.

I had the honor of know Pat personally and professionally. His passing is a big loss for an entire community and anyone that knew him. Thankfully, I was member that community. I truly enjoyed the moments I spoke to him and look forward to that opportunity. I learned something new in each interaction and got a window into his decision making process. What respected is that he took time to ask my opinion and no matter how ridiculous and gave it thought. Thank you for the time Pat. 

Pat was a great visionary who created a legacy with OSIsoft. He touched so many of our lives with great memories and experiences. RiP, you will surely be missed.

I am deeply saddened with the loss of my long time friend. At the same time I celebrate Pat's life and the time that we enjoyed together.

A true pioneer of the technical information era, a very successful visionary and entrepreneur, and a very caring and sharing person. I will truly miss him.

It's hard to sum up 22 years in a few words. There are so many stories. We all have them. Perhaps you had a chance encounter with him in the elevator, and you stood there frozen because the guy who has a giant painting of his face in the lobby is now standing across from you. Then he cracks a smile, tells a joke and you realize just how approachable he is. Or... in my case, HE invites you to lunch, and when the bill comes, he informs you of a fictitious HR policy which states he isn't allowed to pay for lunch! Which is then followed by an awkward pause and a roaring laugh! Ha! Yes... these are just a few of my memories of Pat. He was quite the prankster and always showcasing his sense of humor. Every "non-work" engagement required me being on my toes at all times. I just never knew what he had up his sleeves. 

Over the years, the pranks and jokes slowed down, and the topics shifted to our families and our health. He guilted me into picking up Crossfit. "Did you go to CrossFit class this morning? Norton, If I can do it... you can! I'm a grandfather!!". He talked about his Ukulele practice... "I will come to any customer meeting you have, just no matter what, I can't miss my Ukulele practice!". The date he embarrassed me in front of became my wife, we had children. He would occasionally ask about my family, but never missed a moment to re-share the story of that date with the family at the next event. 

What do you say about someone who has impacted the lives of so many? For me, I just want to say, "Thank you". It was always hard me to do this in person. He would skillfully shift the conversation in another direction, or just brush me off. But today Pat ... I've got the mic! :)

Thank you for the pranks, the laughs, the mentorship, the support, the motivation to serve my community.

Thank you for your cultivating a philosophy and culture based on a very intentional focus on the success of our customers. If our customers succeed, we succeed. If we do it right, then they will want to see US succeed. 

Lastly Pat... Thank you for your friendship.