John Paul Patterson

On March 4th 2018, at the age of 83 years, John Patterson passed from this life after a short bout with pneumonia and a long struggle with memory problems. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Norma, their children Pam and her husband James, Mark and his wife Erin, grandchildren Lena and Aidan, and his beloved kitty-cat Ling-Ling who wanders the house calling for him.

He had been a marine and viewed his Corps training as an essential part of completing his upbringing and a fraternal alliance that became ever more important to him over the years. He proudly wore his marine cap, happy to engage anyone who might thank him for his service.

His upbringing instilled in him a fierce desire to protect those around him, anchored a deep longing for loyal family, and firmly planted a commitment to be true to his word and to respect a code of ethics. Concepts that were more elusive to his upbringing. He strove to be so much more than his past might have led him to be. Over the course of his years as a young man he worked to support himself while going to school on the GI bill. He achieved his GED and then a college degree in finance from the University of Washington, and later his CPA license, going on to lead teams, speak publicly to large audiences, and publish articles in respected trades.

He was a trailblazer, fierce animal lover and advocate of trees. The crows in the neighborhood will likely miss his whistle call and treats as much as his cat, Ling-Ling. John was a banker, security company owner, CPA (Certified Pain in the Ass, as he would often chuckle), CFA (Certified Fraud Examiner), investing intuit, painter, photographer, bread baker, exercise fanatic. One typical exercise log reported 1,380 reps over 80-90 minutes. And he would do this regimen nearly every day. He was a Seattelite through and through. From scuba diving, sailing, and his second degree black belt, to his vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and world travels on his bicycle with Norma and friends (France, Germany, Ireland, China and beyond), he was undaunted in the face of bold challenges. He achieved a great many milestones not just for himself, but also for his family, who will carry his legacy of trailblazing forward.

John embodied a personality of monumental proportions. And while not everyone loved his intensity, nor his opera music blasting out the open doors of the house on a warm summer day, those who understood him and recognized him for his big, kind heart, and desire to see people laugh, will miss him very dearly.

Donations, in honor of John’s life, to Assumption Catholic Church in Seattle are deeply appreciated. AssumptionSeattle.com/online-giving