Patrick Richard McCool passed away on November 22, 2006 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, in the presence of his wife, Barbara and his son, Mike.  He faced the end with the same quiet courage that he demonstrated all his life.  He missed the 50th and we all miss him. 

The quote that follows is the biography that Pat wrote for inclusion in the 50th Golden Lucky Bag: Born Minneapolis, MN, 12/21/33.  At 14, my mother, father and sister Colleen moved to California where I graduated in 1951 from Jefferson HS, Daly City, CA.  I immediately joined the Naval Reserve and attended Columbian Prep School in Washington, DC.  While at the Naval Academy, I roomed with Dar Lundburg and Dick Bryant and played plebe and varsity football all four years, including Navy’s Sugar Bowl victory in 1955.  Upon graduation, I was commissioned into the Navy Supply Corps and attended NSCS in Athens, GA.  In 1957, I married Barbara Anne Daniels of Silver Spring, Maryland, and served aboard the USS FIREDRAKE (AE 14), and the USS BAUSELL (DD 845), in WESTPAC.  In 1959 I returned to the Naval Academy in the Physical Education Department and coached and scouted football for the NAAA.

In July 1961, I resigned my regular commission and took an engineering position with Cabot Corp in Boston, MA.  I also attended Boston College, receiving and MBA in 1967.  Moving into Commercial Chemical Development, my civilian working career included 16 years with Elf Atochem in Buffalo, NY, and 20 years with UOP in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Chicago, IL, where I retired in 1999.

Barbara and I were blessed with two daughters, Lori Anne and Amy Margaret, and two sons, Patrick Michael and James Brian.  Patrick Michael (Mike) was born at the Naval Academy and graduated in the class of 1983.  In retirement Barbara and I live in Southern Pines/Pinehurst, NC, a small golfing community one hour south of Raleigh, NC.  Up until September 2005, when I was diagnosed with renal (kidney) cancer, our life revolved around our family, exercise and reducing our handicaps.  Currently we are focused on an experimental medical program to shrink the cancer tumors in my lungs.  With some luck, I’ll be at our 50th.”