Patrick John Larkin was born on July 6, 1968 in Seattle, WA to his parents Richard and Irene Larkin. Immediately following his birth, his father purchased a small cake and went to Irene’s parent’s house where they celebrated his “real first birthday.” No candle yet, that required another 12 months. His first two years were spent probably bothering his big brother David’s lifestyle since David now had a young sibling to put up with. It was another two years before the third brother Alex arrived placing Patrick in the middle.
Patrick attended school in Seattle (1972-1975) and Novato, California (1975-1977). His best friend in Novato was Mark Martinez – two fun, “normal,” and adventurous kids. Not getting in trouble, but occasionally wandering a bit too far. Found them both playing in a wet ditch by the side of the road when they should have been in school – stern warnings and it was not repeated. During Junior High he attended school in Kenmore (1977-1983). One incident stands out when Patrick and his bother Alex rode their bikes a few miles from home and went into a KFC restaurant with their dog following. The dog waited at the restaurant door. Several hours later while at home, Pat and Alex remembered the dog did not return home with them – they went back to the restaurant and found the dog waiting at the door they had gone into – when they left, than had exited a different door.
Pat’s soccer team won a championship for North King/South Snohomish Counties. It was a well coached team with a lot of spirit and no particular star player. Just a strong team with every member actively playing and supporting each other. Active in the Cascade Mountains as a boy scout. He was a very inquisitive hiker. His father, who was Scoutmaster, often found Patrick dangerously close to the edge of high cliffs and exploring other outcroppings in the forest. He was also a big fan of Ozzy Osborn as a teenager. He moved with the family across the United States learning a lot about U.S. history as they followed the Lewis and Clark route east from Washington toward Maryland.
During High School, they lived in Annapolis, Maryland. Here he met and created strong lifelong friendship with several classmates including his eventual fiancé, Mia (engaged in 2020 after many years of being separated by miles). Pat lived on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay and spent many hours fishing, crabbing, wandering the Bay in a small canoe which he went out in with his brother, Alex, sometimes another friend, crab pots, radio, cooler, etc. with about 2” freeboard – and was often joined far out in the water with their family dog, Cindy who followed the canoe from shore. His first job was at McGarvey’s Saloon and Oyster Bar in Annapolis. Actually a popular restaurant but it required some discussion with the high school administration because of the name “saloon and bar”. He worked through positions of dishwasher and busboy. He sang the song “I’m So Excited” at his high school graduation ceremony in 1986. (He helped stack a pile of automobile tires high around the flag pole and he never explained how they managed to do it). Pat and his brother Alex purchased a 13’ used outboard boat with an “elderly” engine (probably about 35 horsepower). They went out onto the Chesapeake Bay among ocean going freighters far out from shore with no communication (no cell phones yet). They circled an isolated island and eventually returned home after several hours and miles of travel. When they reached shore, their engine froze and never ran again. To quote Alex, “they had a lot of fun adventures and nearly any one of them could have ended in disaster.” Pat hiked on the Appalachian Trail, an enjoyable experience with very different terrain from the Cascade and Olympic Mountain’s he had been exposed to earlier.
After High School, he lived iin the North Seattle area, Alaska, Prescott, Arizona, and Auburn. He told his father long after it happened about how he was caught speeding but managed to “lose the police car” by driving through neighborhoods, etc. Sometimes at “extreme” speeds. Might say based upon his stories as an adult that he did fairly typical teenage things, but happily his parents were not always aware. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and learned to fly small aircraft. Pat worked on a fish processing ship with his brother David, the ship medical officer, on the Bering Sea for two seasons and on land for another season in Ekuck, Alaska. He had varied positions within Air Freight with Seattle Air Cargo, Becker, and eventually Summit NW. He had a Commercial Diver’s License, loved the industry, and could share more information about long haul trucks than most “non truckers” like his parents could absorb. He entered the world of flipping houses when he and his parents purchased a “fixer upper” house in Auburn - parent’s funding, Patrick’s labor. The plan was to trade up with three houses, then his parents would pull out of the arrangement and Patrick would continue house flipping on his own. Timing was off and the Auburn house was purchased at the peak of house prices (the real estate bubble burst) when they purchased it, so instead of flipping, it became an enjoyable repair, upgrade, and working together relationship over several years between Patrick and his parents. The Auburn location changed from a house to Patrick’s home.
Private Graveside Service, Washelli Cemetery.
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