Patrick Michael Cassidy

Patrick Michael Cassidy, loving son, brother, father and grandfather, passed away in his home on September 18 th, 2022. Patrick was born in Washington D.C on March 13 th, 1950 to James Anthony Cassidy and Mary Elizabeth Cassidy. He grew up in Arlington Virginia along with his two brothers Roger and Joe, where he attended Wakefield High School, graduating in 1968. Patrick married Linda Lee Danko on June 30th, 1969. Patrick and Linda had two sons, Christopher and Brian. Patrick spent his career with the Federal government, working for both the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the State Department. He had a passion for fishing and being in and around nature and spent as much time as he could doing both in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He also frequented his ancestral home in Southern Pines North Carolina, visiting family and stopping by the the historic childhood home of his mother. Patrick spent his later years in the town and home that he loved in Vienna Virginia, talking to every person he met in his daily routines throughout the town, and hosting tea parties and croquette games for his grandchildren whom he adored, as well as the neighborhood children who knew him as the gentle old man across the street who fed the squirrels and the deer. Patrick is survived by his two brothers Roger and Joe Cassidy, his sons Christopher and Brian Cassidy, their wives Dana Cassidy and Michelle Sullivan, his ex-wife and mother of Chris and Brian, Linda Stephenson, and his five grandchildren, Madison, Cameron, Liam and Peyton Cassidy, and Colin Sullivan. On a less formal note, it's impossible to express the gap that Dad's passing has left in our lives. There was a special elusive quality to Dad that was and always will be difficult to put a finger on. Perhaps the best way to put it is that Dad was assured. Assured in what he thought, assured in what he believed, assured in his actions, and most definitely assured in his love and in those he loved. Our father was one of the most genuine people we have come across. If he smiled at you, it was because you made him happy. If he asked you a question, it was because he was truly interested. If he introduced himself and every member of his family at the table to the waiter at the burger joint, it was both because he was deeply proud that you were his family, and genuinely cared about the stranger he just met, whom he no longer considered a stranger. We loved that about you Dad. Dad, we will miss the soggy cereal, the smell of the Broiler, the fishing trips with more mosquitoes than fish, the Junior High football stories, the hour long drives to the Roy Rogers with the best french-fries, quoting American Graffiti, the shots of rum at 10am on a Sunday, watching you pretend to let us win at pool, the stink bombs in Magruders, and the bottle rockets in the back yard. We will miss all of these things because they were with you. But what we will all miss most of all is the warmth of your smile, and the tightness and length of your hugs. Love always, your King and your Bear. A remembrance gathering will be held at Advent Funeral Home (7211 Lee Highway) in Falls Church VA on Friday October 28 th from 5-7. We picked this particular location not because of its convenience, or amenities (like seating or parking, of which it has limited amounts of both), but in honor of our father, because it just felt like something he would like. While this philosophy didn't always make for the easiest journeys with Dad, it certainly led to some of the best stories. That being said, with logistics in mind, we wanted to offer several options in addition to the remembrance gathering for people to both grieve with us, share their stories, and pay their respects as we celebrate our father's life: On Thursday October 27 th, we will be at Bear Branch Tavern in Vienna, VA from 5:00pm until the last Pat Cassidy story is told. We welcome you to join us and share your stories and a libation in the town that Dad planted his roots and never stayed away from for too long. Later this year (dates still to be determined), in honor of our father's wishes, we will be spreading his ashes in both Southern Pines North Carolina at the site of his ancestral home, and the Outer Banks North Carolina, Dad's forever playground. If you would like to pay your respects at either of these occasions, or plan on traveling from out of town for the gathering on the 28 th of October, please reach out to either Brian Cassidy ( brian.m.cassidy@gmail.com ) or Chris Cassidy ( ccassidy@netzero.net ) so we can provide further details and help plan any accommodations. Again, while we welcome you to celebrate our father at all these events, the thought is to provide everyone with options that may be more convenient from a schedule and travel perspective while honoring our father's wishes. And if you are unable to attend in person, just sending your favorite story, or your favorite picture of Dad is equally appreciated and contributes just as much to the grieving process. We thank all of you for all the support and love that you have provided and continue to provide. Chris and Brian