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James ‘Pat’ McDonough

  James “Pat” McDonough, who lived his wonderful life “with no regrets,” died peacefully at his home in Sonoma, on July 20, 2012. 

  Pat was born April 7, 1935, to the late Bartly and Victoria McDonough, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the third of six children, five boys and one girl. He married Diana McDonough on April 3, 1993. They lived together in Mill Valley, then moved to Park City, Utah, where they lived for two years before relocating to Sonoma in 2002.

  Pat graduated from Salt Lake’s East High School in 1953, after attending Judge Memorial for many years. Soon afterward, he joined the Navy, serving as a corpsman at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland. After his military service, Pat settled in San Francisco, married, and started a family.

  For seven years, Pat worked full-time loading freight for United Air Lines while attending San Francisco State University. There he obtained his BA and teaching credential, later returning for his MA and administrative credential. In 1965, he began teaching at Park School in Mill Valley and soon, tired of the fog and the commute from Daly City, relocated his family to Marin County. Pat’s career with the Mill Valley School District spanned 28 years, serving as teacher, vice principal, principal and finally as superintendent, a post he held for 11 years before retiring on June 30, 1993. Pat was admired, respected, and loved by his students and colleagues.

  Pat loved fly fishing, nature photography, gardening, and playing golf with his buddies, to name just a few of his favorite pastimes. Pat was very special to his family and many friends for his thoughtfulness, compassion, warm smile, laughter, wit, silly jokes, and the ease we all felt around him. He was also a great dancer! He never forgot a birthday, anniversary, special event, or personal milestone. Pat lived life on his own terms, showed enormous courage in difficult times, and embraced all that life had to offer. It is with great sadness that we, his family and dear friends, bid him farewell, but Pat will live on in our hearts forever.

  He is survived by his wife, Diana; son, Mike; daughters, Chris and Yvette; stepdaughters, Indira and Val; sons-in-law Larry, Tim and Adam; and eight adoring grandchildren.

  A celebration of Pat’s life will take place on Friday, Aug. 17, at 10:30 a.m. at Estate Restaurant, 400 W. Spain St., Sonoma. You can leave a condolence or remembrance at www.duggansmissionchapel.com.

  In lieu of flowers, donations in Pat’s name can be made to Hospice By The Bay, www.hospicebythebay.org, 190 W. Napa St., Sonoma, CA 95476, or Global Grandmothers, www.globalgrandmothers.org., P.O. Box 504, Sonoma, CA 95476.

Duggan’s Mission Chapel

525 W. Napa St.,

 Sonoma, CA.

duggansmissionchapel.com

707-996-3655