Patricia O’Toole
Patricia was born in London, England and was adopted as a baby by a loving couple. After finishing school, she worked for a music licensing company in London and discovered what would be a life-long interest in ballroom dancing. And then came Peter O’Toole, dancing into her heart at a London dance club. Tall, dark and handsome, driving a dashing motorcycle; she knew early on that this was The One.
Pat and Pete decided to emigrate to Canada in 1957. Peter joined the Canadian Air Force and soon after they were married in Chatham, Ontario. They had a memorable posting in Cold Lake, Ontario that more than lived up to its name. After leaving the air force, Pat worked at the Canadian Automobile Association so that Pete could study electrical engineering. After graduation, Pete was recruited by Boeing and the couple emigrated to the greater Seattle area in 1967.
In Seattle, Pat and Pete rekindled their love of ballroom dancing and became top nationally ranked competitors. Pat became very involved with an amateur dance non-profit organization for many years and really enjoyed getting to know and help all its members.
If you wanted to know what Pat was like, you only had to look at the framed needlepoint on her wall listing Scorpio characteristics, “intelligent, honest, self-sufficient and quick to get involved”. She was the best friend you could ever have. Indeed, she kept every friend she ever had, and treasured her family connections. Late in life, Pat had the great joy of being reunited with her birth family. Knowing Pat always wondered about her birth parents, Peter did an extensive search, eventually discovering her birth family and sister, Susan, in England whom she became close to.
Pat left us on March 23, 2002 at her Redmond home and a private funeral was held. She is survived by her husband Peter O’Toole and her sister Susan Evans. Pat touched many, many lives through the years and will be greatly missed by all.
View a short online slideshow of Pat’s life at
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