Patrick Gerard McDonnell's Obituary
Patrick Gerard “Gerry” McDonnell (62) passed away peacefully on June 3, 2023, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in Manhattan.
Born October 30, 1960, to Brid and Eugene McDonnell, Gerry grew up in the town of Castlebar, Ireland with nine siblings: Dermot, Eugene, Joseph, Mary, Pearse, Noelle, Niall, Seamus and Edel.
As a teenager Gerry was an exceptional chess player. He played on county teams and represented his country at international level. At one stage he was the third ranked chess player in Ireland.
He graduated as a civil engineer from Galway University in 1980. He worked for Mayo County Council before the lure of the US saw him depart Ireland for New York in 1986.
He spent many years working for Langan Engineering before starting his own consultancy business, Elan Engineering, in 2016. Of the many projects he worked on the one in which he took the most pride was Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island.
Gerry made many good friends at the Marble Collegiate church social events in New York, and these friendships remained steadfast until his passing. Like many others, he volunteered with the Red Cross in the 9-11 recovery effort.
He developed a passion for mountaineering and ascended Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua and Elbrus. Two of his less talented brothers fearfully recall an occasion when Gerry led them on a daring climb of Nephin in the midst of one of those Atlantic storms that regularly batter Mayo in the depths of winter.
Gerry loved soccer and played in a number of soccer leagues. He spoke often about team camaraderie and of the wonderful friends he made there.
When cancer came calling in 2022, Ger faced it with courage and good grace. He carried himself with dignity into the toughest battle of his life. He enrolled on a trial of a new experimental treatment. Regardless of the outcome, he knew that it would help advance the cause of science. Sadly, it was his last challenge.
Gerry’s family would like to express their deep appreciation to those friends who helped him in the last six months and especially to Kerry for the love and dedication she showed him over the course of his illness.
A visitation service will be held for Gerry at Hennessy Heights Funeral Home (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ) from 6-8pm on Wednesday June 7. He will be buried in Castlebar cemetery in his hometown in Ireland. He leaves behind his Mother Brid, nine siblings, nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends on both sides of the Atlantic. He will be dearly missed by all.
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