Obituary: Pattinson

Brian Edward PattinsonJuly 23, 1957 - February 10, 2016Patience. Kindness. Honesty. Humility. Loyalty. Service. Dedication. Passion.For a man like Brian Pattinson, these were more than just mere adjectives which described him; they served as a testament to how he lived his life.Obituary: Pattinson“Volunteers, such as Brian, make a meaningful difference for so many in the Riverview community,” said Riverview School District Superintendent, Dr. Anthony L. Smith. “Brian inspired our youth, brought adults together and created a sense of true community where everyone is accepted, appreciated, and celebrated.”Brian lived an incredible life, cut short far too soon when he passed away from natural causes while visiting family in his native New Zealand on February 10, 2016. He was 58.Life began for Brian and his family in Pakuranga, a suburb east of Auckland, New Zealand. He completed primary and intermediate school there and found a love of singing, theater and performance at Edgewater College, a secondary school also located in his hometown. He sang, played the piano, and soon became in charge of lighting and sound for a number of Edgewater College productions, picking up the bass electric guitar along the way.Brian would next attend the University of New Zealand, Auckland, studying electronic physics with a major in computer science. His sister, Barbara Ormond, recalls, “He spent most of his time in the computer sciences department writing programs.” While at university, Brian was recruited to join the technical support team with Auckland Savings Bank. “He always loved math and science, and after working there for a couple of years, he left to work for Citibank in Sydney, Australia.”He joined Burroughs (later Unisys Corporation) in Sydney, was transferred to England in 1986. He transferred to California the following year, and met his future wife Jane after joining the Saddleback Master Chorale. They were married at the Waitangi Treaty House in New Zealand January 13, 1996.In 1998, Unisys transferred him to Seattle’s Eastside to establish an office as a new Microsoft Partner (he joined Microsoft’s Visual Studio Platform Team in 2008), and the couple made their home in Duvall. They welcomed daughter Kira in 1998 and her sister Emilia in 2003.Not long afterwards, the family became fixtures in the Duvall and Carnation communities. Together, they supported performing arts productions and live events of all sizes, scopes and designs. For Brian, there was a child-like enthusiasm for all he took on, and thousands of community members and attendees benefited from his passion and dedication in making sure people sounded clearer and looked a little bit brighter; whether they were aware of his involvement or not.Brian always loved to surprise people. Whether with a joke, witticism, or kindly showing of his expertise in a vast variety of things, he constantly caught people off guard. Few know that he was a former pilot, and in his younger days, surprised his family visiting him in Australia. He not only revealed that he had secretly earned his pilot’s license, he also took them on a flight. At one time, he loved sailing and competed in regattas and competitions.He continued his love of singing by performing with Cascadian Chorale, and proudly could recite any line or recall any sketch from Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Not surprisingly, Brian was also well-read and well-studied on a variety of topics.Time and time again, the thoughts surrounding Brian’s life is that he was a man seemingly everywhere all at once. If sound or lighting was needed for an event, Brian was there. He was a technical director for the Cedarcrest High School Marching Band’s award- winning 2015 field show.In addition to being a founding member and President of Cascade Community Theatre (“CCT”) and a commissioner with the City of Duvall’s Cultural Commission, he also devoted his time to serving numerous arts organizations, including Duvall Foundation of the Arts, Carnation 4th of July, Duvall Days, Riverview Education Foundation, Northwest Arts Center and Duvall Performing Arts.Recognition came in frequent supply. In 2012, Brian was named the Volunteer of the Year by the City of Duvall. In presenting him with the award, Duvall Mayor Will Ibershof indicated that, “Brian has been involved in so many community projects over the years, it is impossible to count them all.”He would later receive the Snoqualmie Valley Community Network’s Rise and Shine Award in 2013 and that same year, was awarded the WASA-Metro Award by Dr. Smith and the Washington State Association of School Administrators. He was a mentor to students, co-workers, adults and the community as a whole, and frequently shied away from the spotlight whenever someone offered to shine it upon him.Upon receiving the City of Duvall Volunteer award, he was asked about his dedication to volunteerism and helping others. Brian responded, “I believe it is what we are all here for.”Never shedding the precociousness of the little boy earning badges in Boy Cubs organizations, riding bikes in and around Pakuranga with his siblings, or creating homemade fireworks in a secret laboratory under the family home, Brian retained an unwavering appreciation of the wonders that existed in the world around him.Brian is survived by Jane, daughters, Kira and Emilia, sister Barbara Ormond and brother Nigel Pattinson, and his extended family back in New Zealand. He also leaves behind the adoration of thousands of people he connected with, as his talent, selflessness and counsel are simply irreplaceable.A community gathering, celebrating the life of Brian, will be held at the Riverview School District’s Educational Service Center Assembly Hall, 15510 1st Ave. NE, Duvall, on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at 2 p.m. (Brian’s photo by Rachael Firth)