From Father Spitzer:
A Personal Reflection on my friend Michael Patterson
I met Mike Patterson in the Seattle Airport with Jack McCann in July of 1998 immediately after I was appointed President of Gonzaga University. It took about 5 minutes for me to see that this man was truly extraordinary—an “all-in Catholic,” super-energetic, focused on the Catholic mission of the university, and a very persuasive orator. I was not surprised to learn that he was a defense attorney as well as a leader in the Seattle Archdiocese. By the time we arrived in Spokane together, I had already resolved in my mind to ask him on to the Board of Trustees, having experienced several promptings from the Holy Spirit that he would be a great ally, friend, and promoter of our Catholic mission.
After nominating and appointing Michael as a trustee of the university, he showed his leadership capacity, passion for our mission, and desire to make the university great in academics, facilities, mission programming, and athletics. In his first four years on the board, he did not shrink from work, but volunteered for a myriad of committees from finance to investments and mission. Everyone knew that he should be brought on to the executive committee sooner rather than later, because he had a sense of Gonzaga’s potential, the importance of the charmed basketball team, and a grand vision for the university. When I announced the first iteration of a strategic plan to move the university out of challenging times into a period of significant growth (called “Momentum 2007”), Mike did not think I had been overcome by delusions of grandeur, but rather, believed that the plan was reasonable. He encouraged every bit of it--to grow enrollments by 75%, start a $200,000,000 capital campaign, build twelve new facilities, and triple the number of mission programs. Thanks to the success of the basketball team, the expansion and updating of the admissions and financial aid programs, and a quick start to the capital campaign, we achieved most of our goals by 2003. Mike, of course, was a principled driving force to reaching those goals.
Mike was not only a great source of vision and encouragement and a generous benefactor; he was absolutely devoted to the mission of the university. He helped significantly in the renovation of the Student Chapel, and most importantly, backed my efforts to strengthen the Catholic identity of Gonzaga—particularly in passing our policy on mission-centered hiring, our public speakers policy, and the expansion of our programs in faith, ethics, leadership and service.
When I asked that Planned Parenthood be denied a presentation on campus (because it is the largest abortion provider in the U.S.), it was Mike that spoke up immediately at the board meeting and said, “we have to back Fr. Spitzer on this decision if we are going to remain a solidly Catholic university, not only in image, but in reality—let’s get a unanimous vote of the board to back his decision!” The sheer force of his conviction and personality led to the board’s unanimous support of the decision which I believe was a watershed moment for the university’s Catholic identity.
That same strong conviction, vision, and drive led to a host of other important moments in the board’s and university’s history—to the passing of the mission-centered hiring policy, the denial of a play called “The V—Monologues,” the building of the Patterson Baseball Complex, and the passage of the final plan to build our new basketball arena (the McCarthey Athletic Center).
When Mike was elected Vice-chair of the Board and then Chair of the Board, his leadership was so important that everyone on the board unprecedentedly elected him to a second term as Board Chair. As several trustees noted after the election, “it was a no-brainer.”
Mike was a tremendous friend and mentor throughout his two terms as Board Chair. We would go out to his Coeur d’Alene summer home and go through the many strengths and weaknesses manifested by faculty and peer evaluations, planning a strategy for how to improve in the weak areas and use my strengths to foster the continued growth of the university. Mike never softened criticisms on the evaluations. He presented them straightforwardly along with suggestions for improvement to continue the university’s progress. Since he was such a hard driving, visionary leader, he was able to credibly encourage the same style for me. He knew where we wanted to go, but he was also a good listener of those who had different points of view. After a day and a half of intense interior and exterior probing, we would celebrate with his favorite wines (Leonetti and Caymus) and then take his boat to a restaurant on the other side of the lake.
As his good friends know, Mike never wasted a single second. He timed everything almost perfectly—for maximum efficiency and efficacy. On one occasion, his perfect timing went humorously awry. He wanted to stay as long as possible at the Coaches Dinner after the close of the NCAA Tournament, but he had a lecture back in Seattle at 7:30 AM for a large group of attorneys. He carefully instructed the valets at the hotel where Spenser’s restaurant was located, to bring his rental car out to the curb at 9 o’clock PM sharp with the engine running so he could make a 9:30 PM flight back to Seattle with his good friend Jack McCann. At the dot of nine, Mike said his goodbye’s to the coaches and their friends, and headed with Jack towards the car. Sure enough, the car was waiting with the door open and the engine on, so Mike and Jack got into the car and took off. Jack noticed that one of the valets was chasing after them, but Mike said, “oh, I forgot to give him a tip, but I don’t have time now!” so they continued to the airport.
When they arrived at the rental car return, Mike asked Jack to go into the trunk and retrieve his briefcase so that he could turn in the car and run to security and then the gate. Jack returned and said, “there is no briefcase in the trunk,” to which Mike responded, “Jack, I don’t have time for your jokes right now.” Jack responded, “but I’m not joking, there really isn’t a briefcase in the trunk.” Mike pulled down the registration, and noticed that it was not his rental car, though it was identical in appearance to the one that he had rented. Jack was overcome with laughter, and he went down to the gate while Mike had to return to the hotel with the “stolen” rental car.
There were police officers everywhere when Mike drove into the hotel parking lot. Mike drove up to a sergeant and said, “I’m the one you are looking for,” at which point the sergeant responded, “I don’t know who you are, but you are not the one I am looking for.” Apparently, the valets had not reported the car stolen because they anticipated that Mike would discover his error upon trying to turn it in. So, he turned in the car, went back to the restaurant, came back into the festivities, and took the 5:30 a.m. flight the next day –arriving perfectly on time for his presentation (of course).
When I left Gonzaga University to start the Magis Center of Reason and Faith and the Spitzer Center, Mike immediately volunteered to join both Boards. He did this out of a sense of friendship and loyalty, but also because of his “sixth sense” that these two organizations would really help the Church – particularly to support the faith of young people. He was a strong advocate of faith and reason because he experienced their confluence so strongly in his own life. Mike knew the importance of evidence, logic, science, and sound argumentation which served him well in his legal career – and he also had a strong inner conviction of God’s presence in his life and the Church. When I told him of my vision of the Magis Center, he leaped right on it, but also recognized that he was taking a risk supporting an organization that was starting from scratch. Nevertheless, he demonstrated his usual bold incisive visionary leadership, gave generously to the cause, and convinced his friends to do likewise. Were it not for him, Tim Busch, and a few other Board members, the Magis Center would never have reached first base. Thanks to this core group we hit a grand slam (the baseball metaphors are deliberate – Mike’s favorite sport).
During one of my last evenings with Mike at Jamie’s home, we recounted the stories of how we were able to overcome the obstacles and challenges of our initial years at the Magis Center. I could sense the joy in his voice as he spoke about the good effects of our efforts on young people. It was “perfect Mike” – reveling in successes amidst challenges, comradery during hardship, and moving the Church’s mission forward.
Mike loved sharing his beautiful villa in San Jose del Cabo with as many friends, boards, and colleagues as possible. Both the Spitzer Center and the Magis Center experienced his unbelievable hospitality. He lavished on us the best imaginable cuisine, entertainment by his many musical friends, and the best conference facilities, guest rooms, and, of course, his chapel. Once again, we could all palpably sense his pure joy in sharing his great hospitality with us. We remember so fondly his warm welcome, his laughter, and his love of wine and cigars, interwoven with his faith and desire to accomplish our mission for the good of the Church and culture. He was a force of intelligence, energy, joy, love, passion, efficacy, and faith.
I miss my very good friend beyond belief – and I will continue to miss him for many years. Though I intend to remain close to the family and friends into which he so kindly included me, things will be qualitatively different in the absence of his great bursts of laughter, his faith-filled spirit, his driving force toward organizational goals, his wise advice and mentorship, his warm and convivial friendship amidst wine and cigars, and his love so manifest in the loyalty, generosity, and goodness he lavished upon us. I had the privilege of being with Mike on the spiritual and sacramental level in his last days, and we parted company after one of his fine brunches at the Washington Athletic Club with the words, “I will see you with the Lord in Heaven!” I am confident that we will enjoy that eternity of friendship promised by our all-loving Lord. “Mike Patterson, my good friend, God has blessed you and is blessing you, and I will see you relatively soon!”