Patrick Garrett Rousey, age 41, of Sykesville, MD, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Born on March 19, 1984, in Towson, he was the son of Joy Wilson Gill of Eldersburg and James W. Rousey of New Market. Patrick lived a simple, uncomplicated life. He was a 2002 graduate of South Carroll High School and spent the majority of his professional career as a CNA specializing in behavioral health for neurodivergent adolescents. During his time working at Springfield Hospital Center, he put his many artistic abilities to use by conducting art therapy groups, which were especially fulfilling for him and meaningful to his patients. He was also the recipient of Springfield's 2024 Employee Appreciation Award. Patrick was an animal lover who cared deeply for many pets over his lifetime including tarantulas, saltwater nano reefs, dogs, reptiles, birds, and ferrets. He was a talented guitarist who enjoyed playing music and collecting guitars and vintage amplifiers. He loved to snowboard, having spent many hours both with friends at Ski Liberty and on the slopes by himself, enjoying the tranquility that the open air provided. He loved to fish and collect fishing rods, and he was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. Over the last few years, Patrick spent many hours carefully equipping his Jeep Wrangler for off-road use and outfitting it to reflect his own personal style. Most of all, Patrick enjoyed spending quality time with his family. He especially looked forward to movie nights, breakfasts, and his family's annual summer trip to Deep Creek Lake. Despite living with Type 1 diabetes since age 2 and battling pancreatic cancer for the last 10 months, Patrick was known for his optimism regardless of the circumstances and for his dry sense of humor. In his words, "Turns out I didn't need my pancreas anyway." Patrick was predeceased by his brother, James Connor Rousey; grandmother, Ruth Pieper Wilson; grandfathers, Rev. James Rousey and Herbert Louis Wilson, Jr.; and uncles, John Mark Rousey and Bruce Wilson. Surviving in addition to his parents are his fiancée, Diana Messina of Sykesville; close nephew, Paxton Messina of Sykesville; brothers, Justin Rousey of Port Angeles, WA, Daniel Gill of Eldersburg, and Matthew Kushel (Melissa) of Woodbine; sisters, Kayleigh Friday (Christian) of Pittsburgh, PA, Natalie Gill of Washington, D.C., and Megan Farrell (Ian) of Eldersburg; grandmother, Ruth Ann Rousey of Eldersburg; stepparents, Thomas Gill of Eldersburg, Tammera Morrissett of Eldersburg, and Kathy Bainbridge of New Market; many nieces, nephews, and friends; and his beloved dog, Koda. The family will receive friends on Tuesday September 2, 2025, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, 6416 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, MD, 21784. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Patrick's memory to the Maryland
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (
PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network)) or the
American Diabetes Association.
Published by The Baltimore Banner on Aug. 29, 2025.