He was born in Lodi, N.J. on July 3rd 1933 of parents Thomas and Anne Papp. He used to tell us kids “Look the whole nation celebrates my birthday” (July 4th).
Patrick graduated with honors from St. Peters College Preparatory School in 1951 and within 3 yrs. of his graduation, received his Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from The Academy of Aeronautics E. Elmhurst N.Y. in 1954.
He finished graduate studies in Digital Computer Logic and Programming at Columbia University, NY in 1961.
He later received his Masters from UCLA in 1967 in three disciplines of aerospace engineering, those being 1) Airplane Stability and Control, 2) Scientific Computing and 3) Engineering Flight Test Theory. He also successfully completed numerous training programs involving various disciplines from Anti-Submarine Warfare to Conversational Programming systems and was fluent in writing code such as RSX-11-M, VAX-11/780, Fortran 77 and MPS10.
He was married to Barbara A. Ruocco June 12, 1955.
Patrick achieved a rapidly upward mobile and decorated career starting with Curtis-Wright-NY, where he was designing flight advancements for the P51 Mustang. Then to Lockheed Martin, where he designed the fuselage of the Tri-Star L-1011, to Rockwell International where he headed up the design team for the B1 Bomber and then to Northrup Grumman, where he was team lead on the design and engineering of the flying wing known as the B2-Stealth Bomber.
Early on Patrick was a volunteer peace officer in Patterson, N.J. where he also enjoyed competition pistol shooting and hunting. He attained and held his private pilot’s license in 1952-1954, and his FCC 3rd class Radio Operators with Broadcaster’s Endorsement from 1965-1969. He enjoyed Motorcycle touring, Big Band and Jazz music and ballroom dancing with his wife. He was also active and involved with his family, who he loved very much, being a Scout leader for the Boy Scouts of America, their sports and interests as well.
He is survived by his wife Barbara of 68 yrs of marriage and the younger two of their three children Mark L. Pappalardo married to Sandra, Daughter Patricia A. Bonaparte married to Frank. He also had three grandchildren Alexander, Patrick and Kyle.
Services for Patrick will be held Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Park 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, Texas 76034. The visitation will begin in Bluebonnet Hall at 9:00 AM followed by a Words Service in the Mausoleum Chapel at 10:00 AM and Committal at 11:00 AM followed by a reception.
Funeral arrangements and sympathy/memory notes can be shared at www.bluebonnethills.com
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17