A Reflection on Patrick’s Legacy
Written By Ryder Roberts (PWF Board Member)
There are a few things in life that you can pass on to future generations, but without question, your legacy is the most important. Legacy is the finished product of your life’s work, and unlike most projects, you don’t get to know the due date in advance.
Although Patrick lived a relatively short life, his legacy is impossibly vast. In that time, he impacted countless people and communities around the world. Whether it was his family in California, his favorite ski town of June Lake, UCLA Water Polo, open water swimming, or so many more circles, Patrick will be remembered as someone who pushed others to be better — or simply as a light whose infectious presence left a lasting mark.
As one of Pat’s closest friends, it would be impossible — and unfair — for me to choose a single favorite “Pat legacy” moment. But I will share one of my favorites.
After college, Pat decided it was a “good” idea to take a sketchy medical device job in Europe. With no formal training — aside from me acting as a doctor in our tiny Brentwood apartment while Pat demonstrated this blood clot removal device — he somehow convinced himself he was ready. I’ll be the first to admit I had no clue how the thing actually worked, but the only result I ever saw was water spraying all over our apartment.
Off Pat went to sell this glorified water hose to surgeons across Europe. Shockingly, the job didn’t pan out. But Pat wasn’t ready to end his European adventure just yet. Out of money and out of work, he did the only logical thing: he moved to the middle of Spain to work on an old almond farm. I think he was making about ten euros a day.
Meanwhile, back in Westwood, the UCLA men’s water polo team had made it to the NCAA finals. I was an assistant coach at the time and couldn’t have been more excited about the chance to redeem the previous year’s shortcomings. Pat, being the True Bruin he was, couldn’t let his new life as a Spanish almond farmer get in the way of supporting his guys back home. He booked the only flight that would get him to LA in time. I won’t go into detail about how he convinced his boss/landlord to drive him into town to catch the lone bus to the airport — but let’s just say his negotiating tactics were questionable at best.
As the game was about to begin, my nerves were mounting. Then, with ten minutes left on the pregame countdown, I heard a very distinct yell. It was Pat! He had given up everything to be there for his team. My nerves melted away, because I knew Pat was there — and his presence gave the guys the confidence to take down USC in the 2017 NCAA finals.
I will never forget looking up into the stands as Pat walked in and thinking to myself: What a legend.
Ryder Roberts
(Close Friend & Teammate)
