Gary J. Patrician

Gary J. Patrician of Scott Twp. passed away Tuesday at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, after an illness. He was 71 years young. He is survived by his best friend, sidekick and loving wife, Barbara (Solon) Patrician. Wed on Dec. 4, 1982, the couple was married for 41 years.

Born on April 25, 1953, he was raised in Dunmore by his beloved uncle, Peter Patrician. A 1971 graduate of Dunmore High School, he then earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Bloomsburg University. In 1982 he attended the FAA Academy for air traffic controllers in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, before returning home to work at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, where he served as an air traffic controller for two decades, prior to his retirement.

Upon retirement, he and Barbara spent much of their time at their residence in Clearwater, Florida, where Gary loved being at the beach. Also a lifelong sports fanatic, he loved watching his MLB spring training games while being a lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Lightning.

To be remembered in so many ways, Gary enjoyed camping, his music (Jimmy Buffett's #1 fan) and FOX News, but above all else came his love for his wife, Barbara. He was an amazing husband, brother-in-law, uncle and friend who will never be forgotten.

Along with his wife, he is also survived by his brother-in-law, Steve Solon and wife, Donna, of Dunmore; his nephew, Jason Solon, of Dunmore, and Jason's children, Delanie and Jaxon Solon; nephews, Adam and T.J. Sabatell, of Dunmore; his godson, Michael "Biff" Patrician Jr., of Boston; and Joseph Wahl, whom Gary considered the son he never had, of Fleetville; and many loyal friends.

Barbara would like to acknowledge and thank Drs. Louis Kareha, Ferdinand Manahan and J. Robert Ramey, along with the entire staff of DaVita Dialysis in Eynon for the collective care, compassion and kindness shown to Gary throughout the years.

Details for a celebration of Gary's life will be announced at a later date with arrangements under the care of the Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home Inc., 517 N. Main St., Old Forge. Please visit the funeral home website to leave a condolence.