September 29, 2023
September 29, 2023
I miss you so much, Pat. I think of you often and I am grateful for the positive impressions you made on my life.
Patrick Laurence Freeman (Pat) died peacefully with family in attendance at Sutter Hospital, Sacramento, Ca., on September 29, 2020, at the age of 62, due to complications from MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome).
Pat is survived by his father, Eddy, his stepchildren Bonnie, Daniel, and Melissa Arbuckle, and his Freeman siblings Nick, Andrew, Alice, Matthew, Katy, Stella, and Joe.
Pat was born on July 7, 1958 in San Francisco, California, to Dolores and Eddy Freeman. He graduated from Kennedy High School in 1976. He married Sandy Oyler Arbuckle in 1986 and helped raise her three children. Pat and Sandy were married for some 10 years. In 1977, Pat joined his brother Nick at Memory Lane Antique Portraits. He designed and built several of Memory Lane’s award-winning exhibits and helped develop many innovative practices while there for 5 years. After that, Pat worked in the construction business for many years until he became a proud Union Fire Sprinkler fitter for Walschon Fire Protection, UA Local 483. He went on to become a foreman, providing training and oversight to others. In the latter part of his career, Pat completed training in AutoCAD. He retired in 2017 to Nevada City.
Patrick was a born engineer. He loved helping the apprentices in the pipefitting trade reach Journeyman status. Even after he retired, Pat enjoyed helping them solve design problems. From a very early age, Pat could look at something and figure out how it worked. His commanding presence and knack for problem-solving earned him the title “The Chief” in his family. In his spare time, Pat enjoyed boating, motorcycle road trips on his Harley, restoring antique cars, and spending time with family.
Please note: A memorial service and scattering of his ashes on the San Francisco Bay will occur in 2022. We’ll post information here on his memorial website. If you’d like to be notified of the event, please email jude.heller@gmail.com.
PLEASE SHARE YOUR PHOTOS AND STORIES HERE SO THAT WE CAN ALL ENJOY THEM!
If you’d like to send a card to the Freeman family, send c/o Alice Freeman, 522 Sacramento Street, Nevada City, Ca. 95959.
Pat is survived by his father, Eddy, his stepchildren Bonnie, Daniel, and Melissa Arbuckle, and his Freeman siblings Nick, Andrew, Alice, Matthew, Katy, Stella, and Joe.
Pat was born on July 7, 1958 in San Francisco, California, to Dolores and Eddy Freeman. He graduated from Kennedy High School in 1976. He married Sandy Oyler Arbuckle in 1986 and helped raise her three children. Pat and Sandy were married for some 10 years. In 1977, Pat joined his brother Nick at Memory Lane Antique Portraits. He designed and built several of Memory Lane’s award-winning exhibits and helped develop many innovative practices while there for 5 years. After that, Pat worked in the construction business for many years until he became a proud Union Fire Sprinkler fitter for Walschon Fire Protection, UA Local 483. He went on to become a foreman, providing training and oversight to others. In the latter part of his career, Pat completed training in AutoCAD. He retired in 2017 to Nevada City.
Patrick was a born engineer. He loved helping the apprentices in the pipefitting trade reach Journeyman status. Even after he retired, Pat enjoyed helping them solve design problems. From a very early age, Pat could look at something and figure out how it worked. His commanding presence and knack for problem-solving earned him the title “The Chief” in his family. In his spare time, Pat enjoyed boating, motorcycle road trips on his Harley, restoring antique cars, and spending time with family.
Please note: A memorial service and scattering of his ashes on the San Francisco Bay will occur in 2022. We’ll post information here on his memorial website. If you’d like to be notified of the event, please email jude.heller@gmail.com.
PLEASE SHARE YOUR PHOTOS AND STORIES HERE SO THAT WE CAN ALL ENJOY THEM!
If you’d like to send a card to the Freeman family, send c/o Alice Freeman, 522 Sacramento Street, Nevada City, Ca. 95959.
Tributes
Leave a tribute
July 8, 2023
July 8, 2023
Happy birthday in spirit, Pat. I miss you so much and very often I am reminded of the ways you positively impacted my life.
September 30, 2021
September 30, 2021
I miss you so much Pat. I’m always thinking about you. I love you so very much, and for everything you’ve done for me, I’m honored. You’ve been such an important person in my life and to loose you broke me. But I’m always thinking of you. ♥️
September 29, 2021
September 29, 2021
It is hard to believe it has been a year already. We enjoyed having Pat as an employee. He always accepted new challenges. He was one of the first 483 sprinkler fitters to install the high pressure fog systems in chemical hoods. He took on CAD design and did very well learning the new design even though he appeared to be very frustrated at times. He was helping me restore my 52 Chevrolet truck until I was sidelined for my lung transplant. He was one of my best friends. I miss him very much. God Bless.
September 15, 2021
September 15, 2021
Pat was a very close friend and there are dozens of funny work stories I could tell. The conversations in his last weeks included laughter about numerous goof ups, but I can't think of any that were his fault. I have only stayed in touch with him even with the many outstanding people that I have worked with. We were very much alike and he became a lifelong friend of me and my wife Raya. With love Tom Pearson
January 20, 2021
January 20, 2021
There are so many things that I can say about Pat. I am 46 now; Pat entered my life when I was about 11 as my stepfather. No matter what, he was consistent in being there for me. He was a solid mentor to me my entire life. I held his hand as he took his last breath and while my heart was torn into a million pieces, I knew that he would suffer no more. Pat was an amazing person in my life. I think about him all the time and I have such amazing memories for the legacy of his love and caring that he left in my heart. He was always there for my daughter as well and they had such a great bond. He is deeply missed.
October 17, 2020
October 17, 2020
It is with great pain and sorrow that I write this note about my big brother Patrick. When I was a kid, he was a guardian for me, whether it was saving me from failing a woodshop project in junior high school, or retrieving my stolen bicycle from a neighborhood thief. As an adult, he was my dear friend and uncle Pat to my kids. I could always count on Pat.
I fondly recall the big smiles on my Mom’s face when Pat was around. He was so sweet to our Mom. He cared so much about the well-being of our family. He was a good listener, catching me off guard by asking about a topic discussed weeks earlier. Always checking in and asking if there was anything he could help me with around my house, or if I had any trips planned to California, because he would make a point of connecting up, even if it meant driving a couple of hours.
I will keep a big place for him in my heart, filling it with memories of our conversations and trying to make each other laugh. His great laugh will forever be with me.
I fondly recall the big smiles on my Mom’s face when Pat was around. He was so sweet to our Mom. He cared so much about the well-being of our family. He was a good listener, catching me off guard by asking about a topic discussed weeks earlier. Always checking in and asking if there was anything he could help me with around my house, or if I had any trips planned to California, because he would make a point of connecting up, even if it meant driving a couple of hours.
I will keep a big place for him in my heart, filling it with memories of our conversations and trying to make each other laugh. His great laugh will forever be with me.
October 15, 2020
October 15, 2020
My sympathies to the extended Freeman family, Pat was a good friend and coworker. I worked with Pat for several years at Walschon Fire Protection and Pat's exceptional knowledge and skills were shared with all of us who were fortunate to work with him. Over the years, I've met a lot of people in our industry and Pat was the only sprinklerfitter that I've ever known, or heard of, that could run any project in the field as a foreman and also be able to design & coordinate the project using the latest 3-dimensional computer programs. He was a great guy and will be missed by all of us who worked with him. RIP Patty, May the road rise to meet you!
October 13, 2020
October 13, 2020
It does feel "too soon." He was probably just starting to go though all of his containers to figure out where to put everything. I knew Pat through Nick and Jude. N&J are avid hosts and often Pat was there as well. It is accurate to say that his presence was "commanding." He was a rock. My favorite Pat memory was standing at the window of the house on Topaz, admiring Pat's candy-apple red Thunderbird parked below. He always impressed with his knowledge of "guy" stuff. He did not smile much, but one could sense the tenderness just below. I am so sorry that he suffered these past couple of years. Not fair. But, I am comforted and impressed by the family love that came his way near the end. In that sense, his soul was tenderly lifted to where he is now. Farewell Pat. Pest In Peace.
October 12, 2020
October 12, 2020
Patrick left too soon.
He defined and cherished the values of family, taking practical steps to ease us through hard times with integrity and care.
He cared. He stepped up. He stood up. He made me proud to be his brother, grateful for his kind, no-nonsense love of family. We came up together and were there for one another, no questions, no worries, no second thoughts.
Patrick kept focus on the "bottom line," He lived on the level, plumb and upright. He suffered greatly, but never complained. He was always checking in, sharing the day, teasing gently, and making it all better. He knew a lot.
God bless you and keep you, sweet Pat. We shall miss you and hold you in our hearts, and try to be as great as you, somehow.
He defined and cherished the values of family, taking practical steps to ease us through hard times with integrity and care.
He cared. He stepped up. He stood up. He made me proud to be his brother, grateful for his kind, no-nonsense love of family. We came up together and were there for one another, no questions, no worries, no second thoughts.
Patrick kept focus on the "bottom line," He lived on the level, plumb and upright. He suffered greatly, but never complained. He was always checking in, sharing the day, teasing gently, and making it all better. He knew a lot.
God bless you and keep you, sweet Pat. We shall miss you and hold you in our hearts, and try to be as great as you, somehow.
October 12, 2020
October 12, 2020
Pat was a dear friend and a very loyal employee. I cherished his friendship and his ability to solve problems. We had a customer that was difficult to work with. Pat was the man to satisfy them. When I got sick and had to sell the company, the one thing I really missed was not seeing my good employees like Pat. After my lung transplant, Pat made it a point to call me to check in. When I found out about his illness, we were able to keep are selves up through the rough times. I will dearly miss him. God bless.
October 10, 2020
October 10, 2020
Card from Marc and Maggie Glassoff, neighbors for the past 3 years:
"Pat was one of the nicest people we have ever known - so kind, helpful, and generous in every way. He and Marc had a very nice companionship - they were good buddies. And I always loved his visits. He helped us so much and so often and we hope we helped him as well. Had it not been for his diabetes I would have made many, many more cookies for him. What a great guy and a great neighbor. I know Marc will deeply miss their times together - working on Pat's car - messing with this or that...Those kinds of friendships are so rare and so treasured and he is and will be terribly missed."
"Pat was one of the nicest people we have ever known - so kind, helpful, and generous in every way. He and Marc had a very nice companionship - they were good buddies. And I always loved his visits. He helped us so much and so often and we hope we helped him as well. Had it not been for his diabetes I would have made many, many more cookies for him. What a great guy and a great neighbor. I know Marc will deeply miss their times together - working on Pat's car - messing with this or that...Those kinds of friendships are so rare and so treasured and he is and will be terribly missed."
October 9, 2020
October 9, 2020
I'm lighting a virtual candle
October 9, 2020
October 9, 2020
Pat and I were very close for all of our life. We may of got into some trouble while we were young. Though he grew up and then the work began. I spent more than half of my career working directly with him or indirectly with him at many different companies. The last project was a bit different from what we did for a living. Replacing all of the wood on about half of his house. starting with the stem wall, main joists, sub joists, subfloor, floor, and half of the framing of the walls on two sides of the house. Pat would make a plan and see that it was done. Pat was the man with the biggest heart in the world. If you knew him and needed anything he would help you. I am very sad about his passing and will cherish all the memories we shared. I love you brother Patrick.
October 8, 2020
October 8, 2020
I only met Pat a few times, but there was just a ton of stuff to like about him.
I mean, TWO tractors? You cant beat that.
We went to a great extended-Freeman Family Gigantes game a few years back, sitting with Pat and his family and Jude and Nick just below the giant baseball glove. Aside from a fun Giants game, it was a great Pat day.
Yeah- I miss him. I wanted him to guide me through another ballgame.
Thanks for the sweet opportunity to cheep in.
Love to all of you, from Connie and me, Rob
I mean, TWO tractors? You cant beat that.
We went to a great extended-Freeman Family Gigantes game a few years back, sitting with Pat and his family and Jude and Nick just below the giant baseball glove. Aside from a fun Giants game, it was a great Pat day.
Yeah- I miss him. I wanted him to guide me through another ballgame.
Thanks for the sweet opportunity to cheep in.
Love to all of you, from Connie and me, Rob
Leave a Tribute
Recent Tributes
September 29, 2023
September 29, 2023
I miss you so much, Pat. I think of you often and I am grateful for the positive impressions you made on my life.
July 8, 2023
July 8, 2023
Happy birthday in spirit, Pat. I miss you so much and very often I am reminded of the ways you positively impacted my life.
September 30, 2021
September 30, 2021
I miss you so much Pat. I’m always thinking about you. I love you so very much, and for everything you’ve done for me, I’m honored. You’ve been such an important person in my life and to loose you broke me. But I’m always thinking of you. ♥️
Gallery
When you hold the 3D printed image to the light, this is what you see. Happy birthday in the spirit world, Pat! I miss you so much.
My brother made this with one of his 3D printers
Calendar Guy
Pat's visit to Colorado in September 2016.
On the Pearl Street Mall, Boulder, CO September 2016
William Hall's (left) birthday celebration with Arlene Owseichik, Carla Hatley, William Baker ...
Family Giants Game 2017
Recent stories
In loving memory of Pat
September 16, 2021
Every year I have a calendar made on Shutterfly comprised of my favorite photos from the past year. In December when I made my current calendar, I dedicated the month of September to Pat to align with the anniversary of his passing. I wanted to share with all of you a photo of my September calendar page. As hard as it is to see these photos without tears streaming down my face, I think we can all agree that Pat was a really great guy and he is still deeply missed.
Birthdays in the Summer
October 10, 2020
Pat and I both had birthdays in the Summer.
One of our favorite gifts to ask for on our birthday was a trip to Santa Cruz Beach.
We did this for many summers in a row, perhaps starting in the late 60's into the early 70's
Usually many siblings would make the trip as long as they could swim some what.
Often we would have air mattress's, old inner tubes or just plain body surf for hours of the day.
Pat's birthday was just a few days after the 4th of July so often there was left over fireworks.
One year with the help from an older Brother who was in possession of matches,
we started reworking unspent Piccole Pete's, smash one end try fix the fuse etc.
And Bam lots of fun setting some of them off. We all took turns I only did the longest of fuses.
Then out of the blue, not sure what exactly happened, it was a short fuse and I was backing up quickly seemed like none of us really got very far away when it went off.
Next thing I know Pat is yelling and his hand is very red. The fun was over.
We had to go and tell Pops Pat was hurt. Some of details are a bit fuzzy from then on but the party was over. We spent hours at the hospital seemed like night fall was upon us before we finally headed home. Pat survived not really any sustained injuries.
Patrick was my brother
October 8, 2020
I knew him his entire live. Since I was not quite 5 years old.
We lost track of each other for something like 20 years. I moved out of the Bay Area to Michigan in 1995, traveled for graduate school to Asia and Africa and then landed in the Seattle area in 2002.
We started reconnecting around 2013 (I guess) as he was getting ready to retire and all of us Freeman kids came together to chip in to support our Mom in her twilight years.
Patrick was very involved in making the arrangements for our Mom, Dolores Freeman's memorial and the scattering of her ashes just outside the Golden Gate in July 2018.
I talked to him on the phone on August 15th, 2020. I promised him that I would call again real soon. I had no idea that that would be my last time having a conversation with him. Jane and I spoke with him on speaker phone for something like 30 minutes while I was driving to the ferry. At the end of the call I promised that I would call more often.
I called him one more time after that. I told him "Patrick I love you. I'm rooting for you. You're my brother. I'm a big fan". He was already not talking. The nurse reported that he smiled and looked happy.
I wish I had taken more time to get to know him better.
I was there for him on September 29 at that hospital in Sacramento. I like to think that he knew he was not alone.
We lost track of each other for something like 20 years. I moved out of the Bay Area to Michigan in 1995, traveled for graduate school to Asia and Africa and then landed in the Seattle area in 2002.
We started reconnecting around 2013 (I guess) as he was getting ready to retire and all of us Freeman kids came together to chip in to support our Mom in her twilight years.
Patrick was very involved in making the arrangements for our Mom, Dolores Freeman's memorial and the scattering of her ashes just outside the Golden Gate in July 2018.
I talked to him on the phone on August 15th, 2020. I promised him that I would call again real soon. I had no idea that that would be my last time having a conversation with him. Jane and I spoke with him on speaker phone for something like 30 minutes while I was driving to the ferry. At the end of the call I promised that I would call more often.
I called him one more time after that. I told him "Patrick I love you. I'm rooting for you. You're my brother. I'm a big fan". He was already not talking. The nurse reported that he smiled and looked happy.
I wish I had taken more time to get to know him better.
I was there for him on September 29 at that hospital in Sacramento. I like to think that he knew he was not alone.