Wendell Patrick Fleet

Wendell Patrick (Pat) Fleet died surrounded by family and loved ones on the morning of February 28, 2019 at Harborview Medical Center where he had practiced for over 40 years.

Pat was born on October 17, 1939 to Howard and Constance (Lynch) Fleet in Los Angeles, CA and spent most of his childhood in San Diego. He graduated from St. Mary's College in 1961, and Creighton School of Medicine in 1965. Pat moved his young family to the Canal Zone in Panama after being drafted into the Army as a medical officer in 1967. Pat and his growing family returned to Seattle where he completed his internal medicine residency and nephrology fellowship at the University of Washington. He was hired to the faculty in 1971, professor in 2005 and in 2013 he retired and was appointed professor emeritus.

Pat received many honors and awards for his outstanding teaching, his humanity and exceptional care of patients. He loved his work and was an inspiration and role model to many in their practice of medicine.

Outside of work, Pat loved reading, cooking, brewing beer, carpentry, working on cars and spending time with friends and family at his property on the Hood Canal. He had an amazing will and determination to keep learning, laughing, loving and living to the very end. He will be sorely missed.

Pat is survived by his wife Caroline Rhoads, his children Maggie (Brian Palen), Zach (Flora), Jake (Angela), Mike (Yarenis Reyes) and Riley Fleet. He is survived by his grandchildren Oscar, Aidan, Eleanor, Abigail, Quinn, Joe, and Felix. Pat is also survived by his siblings Teri and Michael, former spouse Mallory Clarke and stem cell transplant donor Ruby Siqueiros. Most recently he was preceded in death by his best friend Paul Monahan and former spouse Patricia Costello Fleet.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 pm on May 5th at

the Seattle Marriott Waterfront.

Anyone whose life he impacted should feel welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the King County Library System or your local public library.

Please sign Pat's online Guestbook at www.Legacy.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times on Mar. 31, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Wendell Fleet

Sponsored by The Family.

17 Entries

Jack Dean

September 13, 2024

Dr Fleet was my dads dr for about 20 yrs. He knew how hard it was to be a little kid with your dad constantly in the hospital. He talked to a few nurses that let me stay overnight with him as long as my mom was back before shift change in the morning. I was still in diapers and using a bottle when this started but I could walk so I was probably close to a year old. As I got older Dr Fleet showed me where they kept the portable video games and how to get to the cafeteria from anywhere in the hospital. Now that I look back he had to have set up something where I could come in and order anything I wanted and he "secretly" paid for it. He taught me how to juggle, do blood pressure with a stethoscope and many other things. He truly had a huge impact on our family.
RIP, with love from the Dean family

February 25, 2020

Offering my deepest condolences to the family, may our God of all comfort give you the strength you need during this difficult time

July 10, 2019

I love you and love you always sweet Patrick. Love Linda

Page Jenner

May 13, 2019

I met Pat in 1974 when I married his friend and neighbor Maureen McBroom. Pat's kids became best friends with our new combined family of four kids and the Fleets became part of our daily lives. I immediately recognized what an amazing guy Pat was. Before I knew what happened I was playing on the Harborview soccer team with many other great characters Pat had assembled. I remember winning a game once or is that just wishful thinking?
Years later I donated a kidney to a friend and Pat became my doctor, which was the most wonderful medical care I've ever received, he made awful stuff fun.
Our dog loved living next to the Fleets because Pat had turned an old console TV set into a chicken coop and the dogs sat and watched the chickens walk back and forth behind the screen. God love ya Pat, you were a one of a kind and a great friend.

Joyce Hedges

May 5, 2019

Dr. Fleet was by far the best doctor I have worked with while at Harborview. He was intelligent, witty and compassionate. My favorite memories are of him taking patients outside the hospital for a brief time or just stopping by to check on them. I feel privileged to have known him.

Hunter Handsfield

May 4, 2019

Nobody better served Harborview Medical Center's patients and professional community than Pat Fleet.

John Johnstone

April 11, 2019

one of the finest people i've known. He was my doctor for 17 years and he saw me go through a lot. If not for him, I wouldn't probably be here today. Rest in Peace , Dr. Fleet. It was an honor to have known you,and to have been your patient.

Sylvia Levy

April 10, 2019

Thank you for your kindness and humor and empathy. You made Harborview a special place. I worked as a dialysis nurse and will forever remember how nice you were to me, and how you treated your patients as equals. You were such a role model.

Ann Lipkin

April 9, 2019

Thank you Dr Fleet for your humor, your teaching, your support, your constant presence and work for the patients of HMC. HMC will never be the same. We all miss you.

Linda Brandeis, LICSW

April 8, 2019

Dr. Fleet took me on my first and only home visit at HMC while I worked with him, it was raining and we went to Yesler Terrace where an older African American woman answered his knock. When he announced that he brought his social worker to see her since she had not been making her appointments, she had some choice words for us and slammed the door in my face. I have made many home visits in my career but that was memorable because I was not sure where we were going when he told me to get my coat and come with him. I had not expected to be taken to see a patient since I generally saw them when they were in the clinic. Additionally, I am not generally someone who goes unquestioningly with someone. But my trust in Dr. Fleet was that great and working with him for the 13 years I worked at HMC was an honor and privilege. He used to call me the Mercer Island Matron, because that is what social workers were according to him. I had to continually remind him that although I was a social worker, I in no way was able to live on Mercer Island and the lady bountiful that he joked about. The world is a better place because of Dr. Fleet, he will be greatly missed.

April 8, 2019

Thank you Dr. Fleet for your teachings and compassion. Dr. Rhoads, I am sorry for your loss and also thank you for your teaching and compassion too, and for inviting lowly residents to the Harborview Book Club and for welcoming us to your beautiful home may times.

Gene Diullo

April 2, 2019

Saint Mary's College and Seattle were the places our paths crossed but his memory has been with me through out the years. My sympathy to his family. Gene Diullo SMC 63

Sterling Brasfield

April 1, 2019

With all due respect and honor, you were a great inspiration to my life. You will be dearly missed my friend.

Cathy Braaksma

March 31, 2019

I'm so saddened for his family and friends. He was truly loved by so many. My husband Bill and I sat with him and Caroline at my daughter and son-in-law's (Sandra and Randy Higa) wedding reception. I'm grateful for that time.

March 31, 2019

Dr. Fleet was my nephrology professor in medical school, but my real-life learning came from doing home hemodialysis for my late husband. Dr. Fleet honored me by writing a foreword for a book I wrote about my husband's kidney failure experience. In the book, I discussed the differences between various health care providers. "The Passionate," I said, "are the people who simply love the art and science of medicine. They are the 'genuine articles.' They are in medicine for the right reasons: simply, they practice medicine to help people. And all of their words, their actions, their commitment to their patients are shaped by a fundamental love of what they do...The Passionate understand that medicine is, by nature, an impossible job - but they give it their best shot. They recognize that even when they are having a tough day, the patient's day is almost always more difficult. They also recognize the perilously fine line between being a provider and being a patient." Dr. Fleet appreciated these words, which, of course, described him perfectly. Thank you, Dr. Fleet.
Linda Gromko, MD

Chic Wilson

March 31, 2019

I loved knowing Pat Fleet and treasure our friendship. I always reflect on his droll and self-effacing humor, his wit and intellect, and his generous, quiet mentoring style. From the beginning, I felt a kinship with Pat, in our earliest days volunteering at Country Doctor Clinic, through our years as teammates at weekly Flounders soccer games. I am thankful to Pat for his mentorship in medicine and life. Thanks, Pat. In so many ways, your legacy lives on.

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