Patrick Anthony Welch

WELCH
Patrick Anthony

Patrick Anthony Welch, better known as “Pat,” was born March 18, 1948, and died February 27, 2017, in Port Clinton, Ohio. He was raised by his loving adoptive parents, Bert and Ruth Welch, in the East Toledo and Oregon, Ohio, areas. He attended East Toledo, Jerusalem Township, and Oregon, Ohio, elementary schools. Pat graduated from Clay High School in 1966 with honors. He served on the school newspaper staff and played in two rock ‘n roll bands while in high school: The Countdowns and The Fencemen. He was married twice, the second union bearing daughter Jessica Torres, who lives with her husband and two children in the Lansing, Michigan, area.
Pat continued his education at Bowling Green State University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1970 and a Master of Arts Degree in 1972, both in English. Again, he was an exemplary student. At BGSU, Pat strengthened his passion for writing, ultimately becoming a prolific writer of short stories, novels, and songs for the rest of his life. He also continued his musical activity while in college, playing in a folk group The Griffins and a rock ‘n roll group The Independent Klaws.
Pat was proud that he had been an educator all his life. And an educator he was, both formally and informally! Soon after graduate school, he taught developmentally disabled students within the Lucas County school system. More recently, he taught writing at Owens Community College, a stint that spanned close to ten years. In between and almost forever, Pat taught many beginners and seasoned musicians alike musical skills. He taught guitar for years at Dave's Band Aide in East Toledo. But the influence he had on seasoned musicians—jamming with and mentoring them—had an impact that even Pat didn't realize. He was a very talented musician, at times incorporating mandolin, banjo, and harmonica in his performances.
Pat worked for several years in the advertising business with Hart Associates and Curtin & Pease, Inc., the latter of which transferred him to Florida for a time. He had side jobs in writing all his life, including writing numerous special stories for The (Toledo) Blade Sunday Magazine. The stories often reflected his personal interests—e.g., a story on bluegrass music—but he was also assigned subjects to cover in The Blade. Pat had a short story published in the early 1970's in the widely circulated national science fiction magazine Analogue. He specialized in science fiction and fantasy in his creative writing. He also had a brief career in the insurance industry, but after quickly attaining his required credentials, Pat decided this type of work was not for him.
Pat worked hard and long all his life at his crafts of writing and music. Like many creative people, he didn't amass the fortunes and fame that his endeavors deserved. But people whom he entertained or who read his stories or heard his songs admired him and complimented him for his accomplishments. More recently, he was quite involved in online publishing.
Pat remained busy with his musical excursions throughout his life. He was in numerous bands—e.g., Sweetmeat, Studebaker Slim, Loose Additude, Flyte '66— that spanned many musical categories including folk, rock ‘n roll, country, classical, and jazz. He also played many solo jobs over the years. A favorite solo gig he did a number of times was for the “birders” at Maumee State Park, for their annual gatherings. Another was at now-defunct Tiffinanny's, a West Toledo wine and cheese bistro. He had a long-running solo gig at the The Garden in his hometown of Port Clinton, Ohio, until a fire closed the business.
Even though Pat is gone from our physical environment, his spirit lives on in the emotions, humor, and lessons displayed in his writing and songs. And it lives on in the memories friends have of the performances, parties, campouts, softball teams, and other social events of which Pat was such an integral part.
As published in The Blade