I was in Patrick’s Art Ed program in the late ‘90’s. He was such a caring person. Better than I deserved back then. I wish I could say thanks, and to let him know how the impression he left, really took hold years after we met. 

Patrick was a mentor, friend, inspiration and overall incredible human. I had the great honor of collaborating and designing programs with him and it was always exciting and fun to see what we could come up with. His expertise and humility were amazing - whether he was presenting or consulting on state initiatives or national art education standards or sitting with a student asking about their work, or training future educators. He inspired and promoted creativity and believed everyone deserved the right to explore their own. Patrick, you have made a HUGE difference in my life and how I teach and I know this is true for so many more.

Patrick’s heart and compassion for the world showed through in all that he did. We met shortly after he moved to Fort Collins where we partnered on service-learning art programs , linking CSU students with school district kids. Mark helped him buy and sell real estate and Patrick helped us create a gallery wall in our home and became our go to art installer for years to come. He cooked delicious meals and we enjoyed many hours of conversation and laughter. The world was a better place because of Patrick Fahey and we are so grateful he was in our lives. He will always be missed and always be remembered. 

Victoria And Mark Keller

"Whatever life for us may bring, though days be soft or stark, and prompt to laugh or weep or sing, we etch a lasting mark."
  We're saddened to hear of Pat's death but glad he etched his mark on each of our lives.  We express our deepest sympathy to Pat's family on behalf of his fellow classmates of the Marshfield Columbus High School Class of 1973.

Dr. Fahey was our examiner for the International Baccalaureate program at Poudre. My admiration for him peaked during one of his examinations. As the IB examiner he conducted the one on one interview and checked the student’s work, the exam takes about 30 minutes. This student had carefully arranged their art work. Smack in the center of the exhibit was a large rocket, a bright neon color, over 2 feet high, and placed closest to the examiners chair.  It’s a rocket that shoots into the air and a parachute would deploy so it would drift back down. Dr. Fahey discussed the attributes of the students work, asked about historical art influences used for motivation of the artwork, inquired about contemporary artists and posed questions about the aesthetics.  As Dr. Fahey finished up his notes he shuffled his papers together and as he stood up returned the student’s Research Workbooks. Then he stopped and abruptly sat down. “I’ve read your Vision Statement several times and looked at your sketches and written observations in your Research Workbooks. But I can’t figure out how this model rocket fits into this IB presentation?”  There was a long pause and the student said, “Well I’m very interested in rocketry.”  Dr. Fahey slides his chair closer to the student and makes an observation.  “If it is so important to your art why is there no record of it in your Vision Statement or Research Workbooks?”  The IB exam was over; it had taken a full hour. Dr. Fahey opened his examiners notebook and sat there for a very long and uncomfortable time writing, closed his notebook, and thanked the student.  As I watched the IB Exam unfold I was thinking in the last 2 ½ years of this student working in class. Not once was there anything to do with a rocket, why was the focal point of their exam the brightly colored rocket?  Later when the scores were posted I knew that Dr. Fahey wasn’t fooled in the slightest by the “interest in rocketry”. Well played Patrick… that rocket just didn’t fly.  

OBITUARY

Patrick George Fahey

31 May, 1955 – 19 April, 2022

Allnutt Funeral Service – Drake Road Chapel

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