Patrick Pasquale DeWilliam died peacefully in Spokane, WA, March 19, surrounded by family. He will be greatly and frequently missed by his loved ones, yet they are grateful he had almost 98 years to be with them and to explore this life.
Patrick was born at sea on the ship Canopic, which set sail from Italy, the homeland of his father, Vincenzo DeGuglielmo and mother, Maria Luongo DeGuglielmo. The couple named their baby Pasquale Marino, and the Canopic docked in Boston, MA with an additional, one day old passenger. His name was later changed to Patrick Pasquale DeWilliam. The family settled in Nelson, British Columbia, and grew to include siblings Antonio (Tony), Josephine (Jo), Fiore (Shorty), and James (Jim).
Patrick became a U.S. citizen and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Returning stateside, he attended the University of Idaho. He also met his future wife, Dorothy Clarke, at a wedding in Nelson. They married April 8, 1950, in Coeur d’Alene, ID. The couple moved to Kellogg, ID, where Patrick started his career as a geologist/mining engineer and where children Joan, Coral, and Michele were born. Patrick’s work took them all over the West, including to Arizona, where children Margaret and Stephen were born. In 1967, the DeWilliam family settled in Spokane, where Dorothy and Patrick lived until their passings.
After earning a BS in Geological Engineering from the University of Idaho in 1949, Patrick earned an MS from the University of Arizona in 1967. He enjoyed a long, successful career as a mining engineer/geologist, including several years heading up the Spokane office of Inspiration Development Company. His work often meant spending summers in remote parts of Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Washington, which he enjoyed.
Patrick was intellectually curious and scholarly. After retiring, he spent years studying Greek and Roman classics and history. And, impressively, in his final years he completed a non-fiction book, The History of Volcanism.
He was a keen golfer, and until recently played a regular game with a foursome from St. David’s Episcopal Church. He and Dorothy were longtime members of that church, and later joined St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
Patrick and Dorothy enjoyed travel, including trips to Egypt, Italy, Greece, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. They relaxed on their annual trips to Lincoln City, OR, and frequently visited their adult children and beloved family in Canada.
Patrick was an excellent breakfast cook and knew his way around a grill. And on any given day, one might find him out for a long walk, reading in his favorite chair, practicing his golf swing in the air, or singing a few lines of “Stardust” while fixing his signature martini (over ice).
Patrick is predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy, and is survived by his children, Joan (Philip), Coral (Bradly), Michele, Margaret (Marc), and Stephen; his grandchildren, Emily (Rick), Julia (Jeremiah), Cameron, Patrick, Peter, and Joseph; his step grandchildren, Katy (John) and Alicia (Dave); his three great granddaughters, Virginia, Sofia, and Gillian; his step great granddaughter, Freya; and his brother, Jim.
The family thanks the following for the care of Patrick in his final days: Rockwood Retirement, Deaconess Hospital, Family Home Care, and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Spokane, at hospiceofspokane.org or Hospice of Spokane, PO Box 2214, Spokane, WA 99210.
A memorial service for Patrick will be held Saturday, April 7, at 11:00 am at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Spokane.