Patrick was my best friend in the whole world.

We met in 1988, he was running the Northwest Suburban Democratic office as well as his brother Kevin’s race for Illinois State Representative and I was a struggling stand-up comic who wanted to change the world - and so did he.

Thus began a partnership that has lasted nearly 20 years. We worked on countless races, he was responsible for me meeting my wife - the Kurth part of Kurth Lampe, and he inspired many to become involved in politics. We have lost a great man.

Patrick was the smartest, sharpest, most inclusive, supportive, caring, loyal person I have ever known.

Kevin

Follow the links below to learn more

Daily Herald

The Capitol Fax

Clout Street

Chicago Tribune

At the funeral of Bobby Kennedy, his brother Ted said these words, I think they apply to Patrick as well:

My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.

Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world.

As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him:

"Some men see things as they are and say why.
I dream things that never were and say why not."