Patrick Joseph Neve

Patrick Neve, as dynamic a human being as you´ll ever hear of. Underrated, unrecognised and under celebrated are three descriptions which apply more to Pat Neve than any of his generation of bodybuilders.
Many will know about the accomplishments of Pat and indeed if anyone reads my (often long winded) posts, I did a profile of this amazing gentleman not long ago.
What many probably don´t know is Pat was on the cusp of international recognition. During the production of Pumping Iron, Joe requested a meeting with Pat in which he put the question to Pat about travelling to Pretoria as part of the competing delegation.
This would have been a wonderful opportunity for any bodybuilder to further their profile.
Yet for a young man who had fought tooth and nail for every tiny bit of success he achieved, it was a massively daunting proposition. Pat was overwhelmed, clutching his wife Vicky´s hand as they stood side by side in front of Joe the thoughts ran through his mind. He had a wife and a young family to consider. He wasn´t so singularly selfish as to undertake anything that may compromise their stability.
`How are you going to look after me Joe?´ It was a frank and very innocent query from Pat. He needed to know his family would be alright, that this venture wouldn´t create hardship for them. It wasn´t a singularly cynical question about how much Joe would be paying him. Far from it, money wasn´t even in Pat´s mind when he asked.
However for the Master Blaster it was temerity of the highest order. Joe was renowned for his miserliness when it came to recompense for his athletes. It was enough for him to conclude the meeting with an abruptness that left both Pat and Vicky cold. An abruptness that left Pat in no doubt about the fact he would never be able to form an alliance with the Weider Corporation.
How was this abruptness communicated? A few short words? A rebuke and a farewell bid? No, the ignominy was more profound. Joe simply turned his back to Pat and Vicky and started discussion with Robby Robinson who was also in the room.
Leaving a confused Pat to wait there for several minutes before walking out and never having any further contact with Joe (to the best of my knowledge).
Was it Pat´s loss or Joe Weider´s loss. History will show Patrick Neve went on to huge success in bodybuilding, powerlifting and business. In hindsight perhaps Joe´s rebuff was the ultimate blessing in disguise.
Pat broke records galore in powerlifting. It wasn´t until injury curtailed his strength career that he returned to bodybuilding. His physique was exceptionally shapely, proportionate and with the deep cuts to rival anyone.
Pat certainly lost nothing for not going to Pretoria. Personally I feel bodybuilding lost a little something. Pat´s profile as a true stalwart of the Golden Era should be higher. He could have vied for the Olympia title and become a bona fide Hall of Famer.
Maybe I´m being too intense in my assessment of what I feel to be a great injustice. I suspect if I was to ask Pat if he regrets not going to Pretoria and becoming one of the IFBB spear heads, he would say not one little bit! I suspect he´d say he was always the master of his destiny and the architect of his success in bodybuilding, powerlifting, business and above all family.

It´s difficult to know what to write at times. It shouldn´t be for me, I have written more articles than I can recall. In fact it was through my writing that I connected with Pat some years ago. After doing some research and fact finding, I wrote several articles on our dearly departed friend Pat.
With each article I seemed to connect with Pat in a way I hadn´t with any of my other subjects. With each word I wrote, I understood the person behind the persona. I admired his fortitude both mental and physical, I loved his drive and tenacity and I loved his work ethic. Yet there was one thing I loved even more and that was his undying love of Vicki and his family.
Pat would contact me to thank me in the most gracious manner. He stated `I got him´, which was easy as he was such an open wonderful person.
They say good things come to those who wait. Whilst this may be true, Pat didn´t wait for Father Time to bestow him with riches. He worked tirelessly to attain them through sheer hard work.
Proving all doubters wrong and showing a steely resolve to succeed, Pat made it and he did it his own way. Powerlifting, bodybuilding, business and family he scaled the heady heights of achievement on all fronts.
Sadly I am unable to encapsulate everything about Pat in this short piece. Suffice to say in that great gentleman I saw a template of how an individual should tackle life. As a role model and an individual who embodies every aspect of the American Dream. There is no better example than Patrick Joseph Neve. A powerlifter who broke records, a bodybuilder who won Mr America, a businessman who became a self made millionaire and a devoted husband and loving father and grandfather. To me he was an inspiration and great friend who I was unfortunate never to meet in but I felt his love thousands of miles away. Pat my dear friend, my dear brother thank you for the memories, thank you for the friendship and thank you for your being you. God speed till we meet again.

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always. Pat was an Arizona Icon. You will be truly missed RIP.

Vicki, this is Roy D'Agostino and Susie D'Agostino. We just found out about Pat's passing. We are both shocked by the news. There are no words to express the grief, sorrow, and deep sense of loss we feel at this time. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family at this time. Vicki, we live in Flagstaff where our son and daughter-in law and four Grand Children live. We run an AirB&B so it might be hard to get down for the services. We certainly will be thinking about you.
'

Thank you for everything.