Bernard Patrick O'Rourke

"How do I summarize my life? In three little words: My-Irish Luck. You may think these simple words cannot summarize a lifetime of events and work from a man of my "advanced" years. But you see, my life has been a series of fortunate events provided, supported, and garnished by loved ones- both dear friends and my beloved family. I love you all more than I could ever express.

"The most productive part of my life has been our marriage and the building of a magnificent family. I am most proud of whatever small role I have played in the lives of these magnificent people and in the foundation of the next generation of talented, brilliant minds. Our family, friends and all the relationships along the way cultivated a life well-lived. I have been blessed... very blessed... and I am profoundly grateful." ~Dad circa 2010

On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, Bernard Patrick "Pat" O'Rourke, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away at the age of 90. He was surrounded by family and caregiver Tigist Gebretsadik as he joined Irish, his wife of 65 years, in eternal life in time for Christmas.

Pat was born in Paterson, New Jersey to Rose McSherry and Bernard Alloysius O'Rourke. A graduate of Purdue University in electrical engineering, Lieutenant O'Rourke served on the Navy's USS Tidewater, AD31, from 1954-1956. After his military service, he had the opportunity to work with some of the country's finest teams of engineers: designing the predecessor of the modern computer with J.V. (John Vincent) Atanasoff, developing a nurses calling system, and creating a rudimentary fetal heart monitor.

Pat met his future bride Mary Catherine "Irish" Gleason through their shared love of flying. Both private pilots, they met at a local airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in October 1956 and were married July 27, 1957. Together they raised seven children: Mike, Maggie, Eileen, Dan, Shawn, Bridget, and Colleen. The family continues to expand with seventeen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and counting.... Irish, who passed away in July 2022, was always Dad's 'Harp': the rhythm, tone, and heart of their long, full life together. Their constance and cadence was the foundation of so many of our lives and will be profoundly missed.

A viewing and funeral mass was be held on Friday, December 30, 2022 at St. Eleanor Catholic Church located at 647 Locust St., Collegeville, PA 19426.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the charity of your choice.