Patrick Lipe, 66, died on February 16, 2021 of heart failure. He owned and operated many restaurants and a Catering business, The Catering Group, over the course of his 46 year career in the restaurant industry. Most recently, he owned and managed The Wrap Shack restaurants in Santee and Rancho San Diego with his wife Jenny. He graduated from San Diego State University in 1980 with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He was an accountant who could cook, a joke he made frequently.

He was known very much for his witty sense of humor; his quick puns and jokes would send everyone howling with laughter, or rolling their eyes. Pat grew up in the foster care system. He bounced around to no less than 13 different foster homes until the age of 16. At 16 he found a home with the Martins, a loving family in the Bay Area, and was there until he turned 18. He didn’t have much love in his life in his early years, but claims that team sports, specifically basketball and football, saved him and gave him a sense of community that he never got in his home life. He often told a story about Ronald Reagan (pre-public office) visiting his high school and tossing him a football for a photo op. After high school, Pat attended Cañada College in the Bay Area before transferring to San Diego State University. It was there that he started teaching ballroom dancing which ignited his love for all kinds of dancing. In college, he worked at restaurants, managed a local night club, Diego’s, and spent years climbing the ladder at Soup Exchange before setting off on his own business venture, The Catering Group, starting as most entrepreneurs do, in his own garage.

Patrick built several successful restaurant businesses over the decades. He owned Dad’s, Dad’s Cafe, and Dad’s Cafe and Steakhouse, all located in Poway, and Dad’s Firehouse Pizza in Carmel Mountain Ranch. He owned and operated The Cafe which fed Poway Unified School District’s staff and catered a multitude of events for the school district including Rancho Bernardo High School’s symphonic orchestra and band events, Poway High’s football lunches, the annual pancake breakfasts, and many, many more. His children teasingly called him the Mayor of Carmel Mountain Ranch because he catered many friend’s wedding receptions, parties, and funerals, and anytime they would go out to eat he would always get stopped by someone to say hello and how much they loved his food. Pat’s was most cherished treasure were his three children, Trista, Trevin and Tanner. He and his first wife Deena shared countless happy hours throughout their childhood and teen years in bleachers and theaters watching them perform. He was their advocate, confidante and forever loving father. Pat spent countless hours volunteering as a coach and sponsor with CMR Little League.

Patrick had an amazing second act in life. Even though he was a successful business owner and had three loving children, he was still missing something. Then he met Jenny Button, and his life was completely changed forever. Jenny and Pat married at Garrett Memorial Chapel at the Finger Lakes in Keuka, NY on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 with all their children and family present.

Pat loved life. He knew how to appreciate the little things and make the most out of any situation. He was scrappy, a fighter, and he hustled to get himself off the path that most unloved foster care kids are set on. He made something out of nothing and was successful in a way that many never are. He gave the best advice about life, could make a joke out of anything. He was a father figure to many of his employees and was always willing to teach those that wanted to learn. He was loved so much by so many, and will be missed more than words can express.

Patrick Lipe is survived by his wife, Jenny Lipe, his three children, Trista, Trevin and Tanner, and his three step children, Ryan, Maddie, and Abby. He is also survived by his siblings, Bill, Mark, Lee and Loretta, and his first wife and children’s mother, Deena Pastore. His Wrap Shack restaurants are still open and operated by Jenny and his children.

A COVID appropriate memorial will be hosted in person and over Zoom on March 17, 2021, St. Patrick’s Day at 4:30pm at Harry Griffin Park Ampitheater in La Mesa, CA. Those who wish to donate to a memorial fund that will be matched and donated to CalCASA, which advocates on behalf of children in the foster system, may do so at the link below. https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-for-patrick-lipe.