Patrick C. McKinnon died at his home on Aug. 5, 2012, at the age of 81. He was born Jan. 14, 1931 in Memphis, Tenn. Pat moved with his family from Memphis to Washington, D.C., and then on to California, where he graduated from high school in Sacramento. He then became a Christian Brother’s and a math teacher at the high school at St. Mary’s Church of Moraga, Calif.
Pat eventually left the order and enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a sailor and began working his way up through the ranks. He left the Navy, but returned when he was selected for Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an officer. He was assigned to Naval Aviation as a Navigator-Bombardier, first with the A-3 Skywarrior and then with the A6 Intruder. Pat served with the Navy for 20 years, retiring as a LCDR in 1977.
Following his Navy career, Pat returned to college and received his teaching credentials from Western Washington University. In 1978 he began a second career as a math teacher at Oak Harbor High School for the next 17 years, retiring again in 1995. Pat was married to his first wife JoAnn and from that marriage, six children were born. Pat was married to Patricia McAuliffe on Dec. 20, 1980, at NAS Whidbey Chapel.
Pat had a love of adventure and travel and in 1992, established the Pacific World Cruises, a group of sailors who envisioned sailing around the world. Pat put together groups of sailors who would gather their crews and set sail under his guidance. His first cruise was in 1997 with a group of six boats, setting sail from San Francisco, headed to Fiji. Six months later, they landed in Fiji, where Pat wintered his boat and returned home. He returned later in the year, picking up the boat and continuing on to Singapore, where he eventually sold the boat and returned to Whidbey.
Pat’s love of sailing continued at home, where he was a charter member of the Whidbey Race Week and sailed on the first boat to win in the first race of the first Race Week. He participated in every Race Week and was able to attend Race Week last month. He was also a participant in the Around Whidbey Race, sailing from Deception Pass to Oak Harbor, an all-night race. Pat was a long-time member of the Oak Harbor Yacht Club and served as Commodore and Rear Commodore.
Pat is survived by his wife Patty at the family home, and by four children: Tom McKinnon and wife Kristin of Poulsbo, Kathleen McGuinness of Kenmore, Elizabeth McKinnon of Mount Vernon and Bill McKinnon and wife Michelle of Woodinville, and one sister Carline Eneboe and husband Ron of Hilmar, Calif. Nine grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents and two daughters Patricia Ann and Ann Elizabeth and by one brother Neal McKinnon and one sister Mary Markarcan.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Oak Harbor, on Saturday, Aug. 11, at 9 a.m. with Rev. Philip Raether as Celebrant. Recitation of the Rosary was held Aug. 10 at the church. Cremation will follow with private family committal rites to follow at Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville. Memorial may be made to St. Augustine Church Memorial Fund. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.
