Patrick E. McDermott – July 21, 1944 to October 7, 2018
Pat McDermott, 74, passed away peacefully at home in Camarillo on Sunday, October 7, 2018. Patrick was born in Osage City, Kansas, on July 21, 1944, to Arthur and Virginia McDermott. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1963 and served for four years.
While in the Navy, he met his angel, Josephine Sandoval, and they were married on November 27, 1965. They moved to California in 1969, where they both attended Santa Monica City College and California State University, Los Angeles. Pat and Jo were active in Chi Gamma Iota (XGI) and worked diligently for years to obtain full accounting of the men and women who were POW/MIA during the Vietnam Era. They also spent much of their free time playing beach volleyball in Venice with cherished friends. Pat graduated from Cal State L.A. in 1973, with a bachelor’s degree in urban sociology. In 1977, Pat and Jo welcomed their first son, Sean, and in 1980, their second son, Kevin. During this time, Pat was working for the Veterans Administration as an investigator and later as a Federal agent for the Department of Commerce. He and Jo and their boys moved from Port Hueneme to Simi Valley in 1986.
In their retirement years, Pat and Jo lived in Camarillo. Pat was a devoted and adoring “Papa” to his beloved grandsons, Jacob Christopher, Jameson Alejandro, and Nathaniel Patrick. Pat and Jo celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2015 with a lovely dinner party, filled with family and friends, as well as a cruise to Mexico, just the two of them.
Pat was a force to be reckoned with. He was an independent, strong, and positive person who was known to speak his mind. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a caring friend who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was also an avid sports enthusiast who loved to attend or watch college and professional basketball, football, and baseball. He loved attending his grandsons’ games and practices as well. Pat was a huge fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and was overjoyed when they made it to the World Series last year.
Patrick is survived by his beloved bride, Jo McDermott, his eldest son, Sean McDermott (Laura), his youngest son, Kevin McDermott (Kimberly), his grandsons, Jake, Jameson, and Nate McDermott, sisters Gay-Lynne McDermott and Kathleen Murphy, brother Mike McDermott (Donna), Godson Gregory Moeck (Amy), Goddaughter Emily Moeck, and many, many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, siblings in law, and friends. He is preceded in death by his brother, Bill McDermott, and his parents.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that you make a donation in Pat McDermott’s honor to the American Cancer Society or the Saint Baldrick’s Foundation.
Pat’s family will miss his incredible sense of humor, his infectious laugh, and his loyalty to all he loved. Have a safe journey, our Papa.
