Patrick Douglas Moore

2006 - 2024

Patrick Douglas Moore
07/21/2006 - 08/24/2024

Our beautiful boy, Patrick Douglas Moore, passed away Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Marin General Hospital. He was 18 years old. He suffered a traumatic brain injury from an accident the prior week in Inverness, California.

Patrick was born in San Francisco on July 21, 2006, a proud sixth generation Californian. He was raised in Burlingame. Patrick attended the Carey School in San Mateo through first grade, and then spent seven years at the Charles Armstrong School in Belmont. He was a rising senior at Proctor Academy in Andover, New Hampshire. Patrick spent many happy summers at Decathlon Sports Club in Woodside, most recently as a counselor. He also spent seven special summers at Four Winds * Westward Ho Camp on Orcas Island in Washington State as a camper and counselor-in-training.

Patrick had a deep impact on many in his short life. He was an athlete, artist, craftsman, outdoorsman, cherished son and brother, and great friend to people of all ages. He had a natural way with others - authentic, positive, kind, and curious.

At Armstrong, Patrick was involved in just about everything. He was quarterback of the football team, active in arts and on stage, and a student leader at every level, including serving as school president as an 8th grader. He was a proud dyslexic, and learned how to compensate, adapt, self-advocate, and most of all to work hard. He won the Wilber E. Mattison award at Armstrong for understanding his own strengths and challenges and advocating for himself appropriately.

He carried these virtues to Proctor Academy, where he succeeded in all aspects of boarding school life. He played several sports and had a reputation as a hustler and good teammate. He played multiple positions in football and helped the Hornets win the 2022 Evergreen League. He played a solid third base, acted occasionally on stage, and was a student leader in the dorms. One of his favorite activities was giving tours to prospective students, which gave him the opportunity to share all the great aspects of Proctor. He won "Most Improved" on the JV Hockey Team as a junior, his first season on ice. In the classroom, he was confident and conversant, known for leading discussions with his lively questions and contrarian views.

Patrick had an eye for the aesthetic, and beautiful things. He recognized at an early age the majesty of nature. As a youngster, he would marvel at the sea life at Stinson Beach, whether fishing in the channel or counting whales breaching on the horizon. He took "pictures with his mind" of the rolling green hills of California, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, or the clear cold water of the Tuolumne River, stashing away those images for later times. He was accomplished in ceramics, winning a city-wide award at the EdRev Expo art contest in San Francisco. He was also a snappy dresser, especially as a young man when he would bedazzle older patrons at his beloved Burlingame Country Club with his vest, bow tie and fedora.

He evolved this flair for creativity into the metal and wood shops at Proctor Academy, and his grandfather's workshop. He produced all sorts of works on both coasts - lamps and tables and boxes and chopping boards. His capstone project was the building of a 16-foot wooden canoe. Last spring, he formally launched the "Moorease" from a snowy shore onto the Proctor Pond, barefoot so as not to scratch the drying varnish. This was a happy moment, the culmination of over 300 hours of work. Patrick's canoe will command the lagoons of northern California for years to come.

Patrick was always on the move, a man of action when the rest of us were at rest. He was an early riser, and you could smell the bacon on the stove as he prepared to tackle some project before the rest of us opened our eyes. He loved shoveling snow off the deck of his family's ski house at Sugar Bowl, while the rest of us lounged by the fire. He learned to drive a tractor at an early age, mowing the fields of Inverness. He was a happy table-setter for family meals, accomplished handyman around the house, busy cook (he was always hungry), avid collector, inspired parlor game player, perpetual organizer, and passionate fan of the 49ers, Giants and Cal Bears. He was an avid fisherman, excellent skier, competent sailor, decent golfer, and determined surfer. He pursued all these interests with confidence and purpose, inspired energy, and invitations to anyone nearby to come along.

Most of all, Patrick was a friendly, caring, and thoughtful young man who made others feel good. He adored his family, the youngest of a close-knit group of cousins who all took him under their wings. He made friends easily because he genuinely cared. When he asked how you were doing, he meant it. He had a reputation for bringing kids from the outside into the circle, reaching out to those struggling, expressing kindness to everyone. He was comfortable with adults, carrying himself with poise and curiosity. Patrick was interesting but also interested, a natural leader who brought out the best in others. He has been called a "Lighthouse" because he served as a safe presence in the lives of so many.

After his passing, Patrick's friends adopted the mantra, LLPM, or "Live Like Pat Moore." Be joyful. Be kind. Be curious. Be all in. Go to bed early. Keep it simple.

Patrick is survived by his parents, Mark A. Moore and Sandra S. Moore; his siblings, Joseph G. Moore and Evelyn C. Moore; his grandfathers, Douglas G. Moore and James G. Simmons; eight first cousins; multiple aunts and uncles; and hundreds of friends.

Patrick's memory will be kept alive at the schools that served him so well. Proctor Academy has established the Patrick Moore '25 Scholarship, and The Charles Armstrong School will name their Art Studio after Patrick. In lieu of flowers, Patrick's family asks that you please consider contributing to either or both in Patrick's honor.