Patrick Joseph Grady

Patrick Joesph Grady, known to his friends as Pat, age 75, passed away at Tampa General Hospital on December 6, 2023, with his family at his side. Pat was born on October 13, 1948, to Patrick and Catherine (McDonald) Grady in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a graduate of Cathedral Latin High School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966. He moved to Dayton, Ohio and attended The University of Dayton on an athletic scholarship from 1966-1970. It was at UD that he met his wife of 53 years, Cindi (Vollmer). Pat was a proud member of the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1976.

Pat took a job with LM Berry in 1970 and spent his 30-year career selling Yellow Pages for various telephone companies across the country. He and his family moved to Los Angeles, CA; Brandon, MS; Shreveport, LA; but ultimately returned to Dayton in 1988. He ended his career in 2000 as a Sales Manager for SBC in the Dayton and Columbus markets. He made wonderful friends during those years and was fortunate to win Top Sales and Sales Manager awards 18 times during his career. He retired early and worked a few part-time jobs after his career. He and Cindi moved to Punta Gorda, Florida in 2012.

In 2014, Pat was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and was given less than six months to live. Through the Transplant Center at Tampa General Hospital in Florida he was given additional years when he received a life-saving double-lung transplant in August of 2015. He and his family will be forever grateful to all of the physicians and care team members who had a hand in his diagnosis, and recovery as well as to the selfless organ donor whose gift gave Pat an extended life.

Pat enjoyed watching football, basketball, baseball and even soccer (on occasion and only if one of his children was playing). Flyer basketball was always a favorite and he had season tickets for many years. He was a die-hard Cleveland sports fan (even in those years most people do not admit to being a Cleveland fan). For many years, if you were looking for Pat, he could be found at MacDigger’s Pub in Centerville, Ohio.

Pat is survived by his wife, Cindi, his three children Holly VonderHaar (Jon), Kelly Dinius (Jason), and Tom (Rafaella), six grandchildren: Reagan, Patrick, Isabella (Izzy), Chase, Aria, and Allison and his sister Susie Titas (Pete).

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church 21505 Augusta Ave. Port Charlotte, FL on December 28, 2023, at 11am. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or Donate Life America. He would also want you to root for the Browns to finally win a Super Bowl and honor him with a toast – preferably a CC Manhattan (don’t forget to add two cherries).