1943 – 2023
BROTHER PATRICK KING, FSC
Born Edward Warren King on 17 May 1943 in Washington DC
Entered the Ammendale MD Novitiate on 15 June 1961
Received the Religious Habit and Name Patrick Jeffrey on 7 September 1961
Pronounced Perpetual Vows in Jersey City NJ on 17 May 1968
Died at Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center on 10 May 2023
Words of Remembrance for Brother Patrick
Given by Brother Martin Zewe, FSC
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Saint John’s College High School
Washington, D. C.
May 17, 2023
On behalf of the Christian Brothers, I would like to express our condolences to Brother Patrick’s sister, Martha, and family members who are with us today and to all who have known and loved Brother Patrick.
Brother Pat was born Edward Warren King on May 17, 1943, in Washington D.C. Today would have been his 80th birthday, and it is also the day we celebrate his entrance to eternal life. Pat graduated from St. John’s College High School in 1961. There he was the Cadet Lieutenant Colonel which showed the respect and leadership qualities he had even then. He entered the Christian Brother’s novitiate in Ammendale, Maryland a few weeks later.
I knew Edward King for three months but knew Brother Patrick King for the next sixty-two years. We both entered the novitiate on the same day in June 1961. We have been friends and have lived together in several communities over these past sixty-two years.
Pat was a quiet and somewhat private man all his life. My first interaction with him, and when I began to get an insight into his character occurred several weeks into the novitiate. One day at morning prayer, he quietly left his pew and proceeded to the front of the chapel, knelt and extended his arms for the entire morning prayer. I was confused. I was not sure if he was having some kind of vision, needed some arm exercises, or just wanted attention. As soon as I could, later in the day, I asked him what that was all about. He said that while he was on dish crew after dinner the previous evening, several pieces of pie were returned to be put away. Since he was still hungry, he ate one of them. The Director somehow found out and made him serve as an example to the rest of us that there was no eating between meals in the novitiate. However, Pat never complained or was upset. He simply said he was wrong, took his punishment, and life went on. That was Pat.
As I looked back over Pat’s life, I began to wonder how to describe him. I found probably the best definition of Pat in the 2015 Hudson Catholic yearbook that was dedicated to him – three years after he left Hudson Catholic. The dedication reads: “Merriam-Webster defines king as: a male ruler of a country who usually inherits his position and rules for life. We at Hudson Catholic define King differently. King is humble, king is honest, king is kind, selfless, quiet, and has unwavering faith in all he does. Of course, we are talking about Brother Patrick King. He has been a teacher, a confidant, a chaperone, a leader, a coach, a bus driver, a tutor, a mentor, a moderator, a friend, and much more. No task is too large or too small for Brother Patrick. He is always willing to give his all. We are eternally grateful for all he has done and all he continues to do for us.” They did not mention that he was also the grand Marshall for the Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day parade several times. We who lived with him would not have known if we had not gone to the parade.
That sums up the Pat I have known for sixty-two years. Everything he did was never about him; it was always for others. He also never dwelled on the past, he never mentioned the many administrative positions he held during those years, Vice Principal, Dean of Students, Principal – he held those positions at several different schools. He was also the Grand Marshall for the Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day parade several times. Again, we who lived with him would not have known if we had not gone to the parade. As I said, it was never about him!
Pat also had a strong faith and lived out his faith every day of his life. I also never remember his missing a single community prayer service or liturgy. He had a strong Catholic faith and actively practiced that faith. He also had a quiet and not too subtle way of letting you know where he stood on matters of faith and the church.
If you knew or lived with Pat in community, you also know that if there was a sports game of any kind on television, you would find him in his favorite chair watching it. If Duke, Notre Dame, or the Washington Nationals were playing, you knew better than to disturb him. I am sure the ESPN station numbers are worn out on the community remote.
Pat was truly dedicated to his students. St. La Salle asks us to “Touch the hearts of our students”. Pat did that. He not only taught, and tutored students but truly touched their hearts. Pat rarely if ever missed a day. True to his nature, Pat was tutoring students up to the day he died. He was truly a son of St. La Salle.
In one of his meditations, St. La Salle tells us “Oh! What joy a Brother will have when he sees a great number of his students in possession of eternal happiness, for which they are indebted to him by the grace of Jesus Christ. What a sharing of joy there will be between the teacher and his students! What a special union with one another in the presence of God!”
I am sure that when Pat entered heaven last Wednesday, and after being welcomed to eternal life by God, St. La Salle welcomed him as one of his faithful sons who had touched the hearts of his students and assured him that he would shine like the stars for all eternity.
In closing I would like to quote one of his former students: “Brother Pat was one of those rare teachers and leaders that literally changed the lives of students. ..not by what he said but by the way he lived every day with humility, kindness, and determination. I would list the many roles and jobs he held, but I I would run out of space. Quite simply, he did it all. I like to think that God ran out of things for him to do and called him home. He needed Brother Pat with Him.”
Pat, may your soul rest in peace along with the souls of all our departed Brothers.
St. John Baptist de la Salle — Pray for us.
Live Jesus in out hearts. – Forever.
ASSIGNMENTS
1962–1966
Elkins Park PA
La Salle College (scholasticate)
1966–1978
Jersey City NJ
Hudson Catholic High School
1978–1981
Philadelphia PA
West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys
1981–1991
Jersey City NJ
Hudson Catholic High School
1991–1995
Cumberland MD
Bishop Walsh School
1995
Santa Fe NM
Sangre de Cristo Center (renewal – 1st semester)
1996–1997
Washington DC
Saint John’s College High School
1997–2000
Cumberland MD
Bishop Walsh School
2000–2012
Jersey City NJ
Hudson Catholic Regional High School
2012–2023
Washington DC
Saint John’s College High School
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Wednesday, 17 May 2023
Visitation – 9.30am to 10.30am
Funeral Mass – 10.30am
Saint John’s College High School
Frana Auditorium
2607 Military Road NW · Washington DC 20015
Reception following
Saint John’s College High School
Cassidy Dining Hall
2607 Military Road NW · Washington DC 20015
Interment – private
De La Salle Cemetery
6001 Ammendale Road · Beltsville MD 20705
Brother Patrick died peacefully on Wednesday afternoon with his family by his side.
The District of Eastern North America remembers Brother Patrick with memorial liturgies according to the tradition of the Institute. Through their prayers, communities and individuals entrust Brother Patrick to God’s loving care.
† May he rest in peace. †
Brother Pat was a kind gentle soul and a good freind to all of us who attented Hudson Catholic , they need to name a part of the school after him , no other brother was loved by us all like he was.
Brother Pat was one in a million. I was fortunate to work with him and Joe “Rocky” Pope at Hudson Catholic. Pat loved his Hawks especially his Hawk Baseball Team.
He will be missed.
Charlie above said it all, and I have tried on Facebook, but will never feel that I succeeded. There is just too much to say about this man. There are too few words in any dictionary that, when combined, can say it all about Brother Pat. I can just sum it up in three words….”THE REAL DEAL”! He will be missed; may God rest his soul!
A Giant among us. A man to whom thousands of Hudson Catholic Hawks are forever indebted for what he gave us that we carried forward into our personal lives and professions. More than anyone, he epitomized the saying: “Come to learn. Learn to serve.” Brother Pat, I hope your Brothers’ Boys did right by you.
Brother Pat was one of those rare teachers and leaders that literally changed lives of thousands of students at Hudson Catholic. Not by what he said— but by the way he lived every day with humility, kindness, and determination. I could list each of the many jobs and roles he had but I’d run out of space. Quite simply, he did it ALL I like to think that God ran out of things for him here— and called him because He needed Patrick King up above. RIP Br. Pat
I will miss his wit, intelligence, his big heart and kindness. He was a friend and a mentor. Thanks Pat for everything. Especially your understanding and kindness
Go Now to your place of rest and Peace🕊️
Memories, life lessons, and baseball… Thoughts that immediately come to mind. He was a man of integrity, honor, sacrifice, and care. May you rest in peace, Bro. Pat. I am proud to have crossed paths with you.
RIP Brother Pat <3
He was 23 years young and I was a 14 year of kid from Hoboken when we met in his classroom at Hudson Catholic in Jersey City. The class was Religion 1 “Salvation History” It was his first teaching assignment. It was my freshman year. From that day in 1966 to this past Monday, May 8th the both of us were on the phone working out details for the upcoming Hawk Alumni golf outing, as always helping his “Brothers Boys” to succeed in any and all that they needed help with. He is my teacher, my friend and will live always in my heart. Thank you Pat for all that you have done for all of us who have been so lucky to know you. We will carry on because of what you taught us by your example and your life. Thank you from Adios Larry.
Brother Patrick was a beacon of inspiration and a pillar of strength. He bestowed upon us the virtues of hard work, respect for one another, and proper conduct, not just through his words, but through his actions. All of us who had a chance to learn under his watch are so lucky to carry a piece of him in our hearts. Rest in peace Brother Pat.
A great educator of young men who truly embraced his dedication to God and his role as mentor for thousands. A Life well lived and a man who made his mark upon humanity. Thank you Brother Patrick King for helping shape my future.
Brother Pat was an excellent administrator & science/math teacher who loved Hudson Catholic very much. He certainly lived up to what St. La Salle wrote to Lasallians, then and now: ‘To touch the hearts of your students is the greatest miracle you can perform, and one which God expects of you”. Brother Patrick touched thousands of hearts and it was a privilege working with him for so many years. Rest in peace Brother Patrick.
As a sophomore I did something incredibly stupid. Instead of being showed the door both he and Brother Martin showed me kindness. I hope in my small ways I’ve passed that kindness forward
RIP Brother Pat
He was a great Uncle to all of us in the King Family and we only got to see a part of what many have said above.
God is with him and he is with God and his other Family members today.
He was my uncle and God Father. Every Easter and Christmas he was a guest in my parents home. He was a King (Eddie King was his given name- one of five. Mary, Eddie, Joe, Martha, Patrisha) for sure, Irish. Let me say that again, Irish.
A hell of a man- a quiet man. Irish.
I always viewed my Uncle Eddie as someone that cared deeply about others. The older I have gotten I have had the opportunity to come to a better understanding of the sacrifice that someone must make to devote one’s life in the service of others. The comments here only reinforce the impact one can have on those around them. He is now called home to be with his savior and reunited with his family members that have gone before. Rest in peace.
I married into his family in recent history, and met Uncle Eddie in person just last Christmas. I’d always heard wonderful things about him, and he did not disappoint. Through quiet, thoughtful, conversation, he gave me a peace that I think only he could have, not even five short months ago. I wish I could see him on earth again, and am truly grateful I had the chance once.
Brother Pat was my dads best friend. They became best friends in college when studying for their Masters at UW Superior. Brother Pat was my mom and dads chaperone on their first date. My dad kept in touch with him. He started coming back to wisconsin to visit us in the summer. When I was 19 our family and Bro Pat went camping in the Boundary Waters for a week. He was my canoeing partner. He was in the back, I was in the front. Couldn’t ask for a better person to be stuck in a canoe with for hours on end. 😃. He never complained or told me how to paddle. I remember his laugh and his smile. He was so calm, told great stories. He taught me how to play card games – euchre and sheepshead. He taught me life skills. He took pictures at my wedding and was always working in the background. He was very humble. We loves him very much and he is sorely missed. 🥹😢