Gerald Patrick Clines

Longtime Berkeley resident Patrick Clines died peacefully in his sleep on August 2, 2022, aged 92. He was born in Nebraska on December 4, 1929 to Helen and William Clines, both of whom preceded him in death, as well as sister Kay and brother Bill. He leaves daughter Joanna; son Sean (Jennifer), grandson Shane (Anna), great grandchildren Kailey, Clara, and Levi; daughter Sarah Hedrick, grandchildren Blake and Tanner. He also leaves his closest friends Dawn Swanson and Steve Douglas who were his Berkeley family. Patrick had many wonderful friends in the Bay Area and beyond. He is missed.

Patrick attended San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, CA, then went on to Santa Clara University. He wrote his M.A. Thesis on the works of author Graham Greene. In 1955, he entered a Catholic seminary in Belgium to prepare for the priesthood, but soon realized that being a priest was not his calling after all. He married Jennifer Hill in 1959, and they had Joanna in 1960, Sean in 1962, and Sarah in 1965. He taught high school French and junior high French and English in the Fresno area until the family moved to France for a year in 1965 when Patrick was awarded a scholarship (Sarah was born in France). In 1967 Patrick taught English (ESL) to Vietnamese students at Fresno State College (now California State University, Fresno). The family moved to Lesotho, Southern Africa from 1969-1971 where Patrick taught ESL, then returned to their home in Fresno.

After divorce in 1973, Patrick found sobriety in 1975, and remained clean and sober for 47 years, until his death. In the 1970s, he taught in Iran and France, then for many years he sold shrimp from his car to customers in the Bay Area, his beloved dog Fou-Fou at his side. Patrick felt at home in Berkeley, where he lived for over 40 years. Muir Woods, Muir Beach, the Rose Garden, Berkeley Public Library, and Aquatic Park were some favorite places. After Fou-Fou passed, Patrick's love for dogs was distributed among many Berkeley dogs who enjoyed treats, walks, and attention (especially Lucy and Ruby). He rarely met a dog he didn't befriend.

A small, private gathering of people closest to Patrick will be held in spring 2023.