Wm. Patrick “Pat” Garrity

Wm. Patrick ""Pat"" Garrity, age 74, of Highlands Ranch, passed away December 23, 2018 from congestive heart failure. He was born on February 18, 1944 in Afton, Iowa, to James and Mary (Dant) Garrity.

Pat grew up in a small town in southern Iowa with all of those brothers and sisters to play and work with. He attended a K -12 school where he played varsity basketball and football all four years of high school. (He also played the drums for the half time performance!)

He proudly joined the Army following graduation and served from 1961 - 1964 in Okinawa as a Nike Hercules Missile mechanic. He was always mechanically gifted, a skill which was put to good use in America's fledgling nuclear program.

After returning home, he attended Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, where he met and married his lifelong partner, Linda Mosman. They both went on to graduate from the University of Northern Iowa, and then moved in June of 1970 to Denver to become teachers. He later earned a Masters Degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

Because he had a double major and triple minor in the social sciences, he immediately found a teaching position at Highland High School in Thornton. They also needed an assistant football, basketball and golf coach, which he greatly enjoyed. However, he had never touched a golf club before, but the head coach told him all he needed to do was manage the kids and carry equipment.

He famously told his wife, ""How hard could golf be?"" He certainly found out as he went on to ""enjoy"" golf for the rest of his life.

In 1977 he started the second career of his life in real estate and property management and never completely retired.

His greatest joy in life was family. He greatly enjoyed being a daddy, but went on to really appreciate the joys of being a granddad!

His hobbies included following all of Colorado's college basketball and football teams, though he never missed Notre Dames' games. He retained his athleticism through his life and enjoyed skiing, golf, snooker, hunting and fishing.

His infectious grin and great willingness to help anybody with anything won him a great number of friends. He will be missed by many.

Raised in an Irish (100%) Catholic family, he later became a beloved member of the Ecumenical Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Aurora, Co.

Pat always worked very hard and played with laughter and gusto. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Linda Mosman Garrity, his children, Bonnie Garrity McLean (Aaron), grandchildren Jack McLean and Katie McLean and Todd Garrity (fiancé Mickki). He is survived by siblings Laura O'Riley, Frederick (Elaine) Garrity, Agnes Burton, David Garrity, and Theresa (Lonny) Reynolds in addition to numerous nieces and nephews. Also survived by a beloved brother-in-law Wayne Benson (Vicki), niece Jackie Morrow (Mike), nephew Matt Benson (Kasey) and Graham.

Pat was proceeded in death by his parents and siblings Michael, Richard, Edward, Joseph, Theodore, Rose Mary Kneedler, Margaret Blazek, Helen Gillen, and Martha Miller. He will be greatly missed by so many friends, both old and new.

Memorial service at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, January 11, 2019 at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church 9203 S. University Blvd. Highlands Ranch, CO 80126-5016.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Linda Garrity, for Heart to Heart, 9 Sutherland Ct. Littleton 80130. This is a family managed charity that supplies household furnishings to newly housed homeless veterans and their families.

 

Memorial Service: January 11, 2019 2:30 pm

St. Andrew United Methodist Church
9203 S. University Blvd.
Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126