Rev. Dr. J. Patrick Figley

July 9, 1938 - February 17, 2024

On Saturday February 17 Dr Pat, 85, slipped peacefully into his eternal rest at his home in Tampa Florida surrounded by his son Patrick Figley II and dearest friend Karen Doyle. Daughter Shannon Figley was present shortly thereafter and ushered his strong faith filled spirit up into God’s embrace with family priest The Rev Ed Henley.

Dr Figley was born in Huntington, West Virginia in 1938. He was the eldest son of Mildred Ruth Akers Figley (d. 1999) and Ira Patrick Figley (d. 1988) Brother to sisters who predeceased him, Carol Anne Figley Adkins and JoElla Ruth Figley. He moved with his family to Ft Lauderdale at age 4 and grew up in the everglades near Clewiston with cousins, hunting and fishing. Dr Figley was a graduate of Ft Lauderdale High School (1956). Pat matriculated at Stetson University (1961 Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity) where he obtained a BA in Psychology & Philosophy, he pursued his Masters in Divinity at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky and then attended the University of Kentucky for his Doctorate of Ministry.

The Very Reverend Dr Figley was ordained at Ft Lauderdale Christian Church (Disciples of Christ/ DOC) on August 23, 1964. He and Janice served Disciples of Christ churches in Paducah and Lexington KY, and as Disciples of Christ New Church Development Director in Vero Beach and Titusville. Pat served Brevard County FL as well, in 1965 as Fire Dept Chaplain and Chaplain for the Cape during the Appollo Age. Pat’s last call was in Tampa, Florida where he and Janice brought their young family to serve Peninsular Christian Church. He was a hands-on pastor; baptizing in the lake behind Park Avenue Christian Church (DOC) in Titusville; midnight calls to crisis events, chaperoning and hosting youth events and helped to build several new churches, homes and was often seen laying floor or roofing and putting in windows. In 1976 Dr Figley opened his private Practice Peninsular Counseling Ctr, the building was nicknamed “The Enterprise”. Pat served as an Interim minister for the Disciples of Christ and many others across the state until 1998 and retired from private practice as a Marriage & Family Therapist and Theologian Consultant at Peninsular Counseling Center in 2018.

Dr Figley was a building block in the beginning of Lifepath Hospice with several additional community religious leaders in the 70’s; he was part of the beginning of the Judeo-Christian Clinic; and multi-faceted organizations of religious groups throughout the city. Active in professional conglomerations with University of Tampa, USF, and HCC. Dr Figley was active in his fraternal organization Pi Kappa Phi and served as President of the National Fraternity in 2004 and proudly visited every single chapter across the country. Dr Figley wrote the National rituals for initiation and chapter Eternal services and many inaugural events for new chapters. He felt his role within the Fraternity was one of the greatest contributions of his life. Dr Figley was an avid soccer referee in the 80’s-1994. He was seen on the fields of Plant, Robinson, Jesuit, and Hillsborough to name few. He was a scratch golfer for many years as a young man, with high hopes! A construction accident curtailed these dreams and the ministry called. Raising kids and building a career often put golf or flying on the back burner but he always made some time, playing well into his 70’s and in 1996 often taking a very pregnant daughter to St Leo’s to play 18 in the wee hours of a summer morning and later those grandchildren to the range or watch them at golf camp. He soloed flying in 1977 and proudly owned a share in a Cherokee “77Foxtrot” that we flew everywhere together. A few rainy nights were scary landings, flying across the Bay searching for an overdue sailboat full of best friends and girls (Mother almost lost her mind) and once the door popped open and Mom held it shut until we hit a strip near Ocala. Good Times.

A life such as this holds many stories left untold and we are stripped of the time that it would take to hear them all!

Pat leaves behind his second Valentine, Karen Doyle of Odessa, Daughter J. Shannon Figley (Vince A. Liggio Sr), Son J. Patrick Figley II (Kelly Hammer Figley) all of Tampa; Grandsons Stewart Patrick Taylor (K. Taylor Gonzalvo) of Gainesville, Drew Alexander Taylor (Leizl Farinas) of Gainesville, Colin Patrick Figley, Noah Cameron Figley both of Tampa and Granddaughters Lily-Ann Owens Taylor of Tampa and Olivia Ann Figley also of Tampa, God-Daughter Sarah Ann Mikell of Washington DC. Sister-in-Law Elizabeth Denkinger (Archie) of Concord CA, Niece & Nephews Marie Deninger (Rico) of Merced CA, Marshall Denkinger and family of Jupiter FL, Tom Denkinger of Colorado, M. Eric Denkinger (Louisiana) Tim Carlson (Christina) of College Station TX, Mark A. Carlson of Central FL Additionally, Dr Figley leaves a dedicated chosen family of Jeff (Cris) Wahlen of Tallahassee, Carlin Liggio French (Brett) of Aventura FL, Vincent A Liggio Jr (Miranda) of Tampa, Alexa Liggio (Alex Bennett) of Tampa and Sarasota; Marianna Liggio (Dennis Morozov), and numerous tiny “belt buckle people“ of Florida and Texas. Services are in the care of Blount & Curry Funeral Home, MacDill Avenue. Services will be held at Palma Ceia Methodist Church, 3723 Bay to Bay Blvd Tampa 33629 (813-837-1541) Sunday February 25, 2024 - Pi Kappa Phi Chapter Eternal will take place at 1:00 - Services will be at 2:00 pm in the Sanctuary.

Please join us for a Reception to follow at the home of Kelly & J Patrick Figley II, 5010 W Euclid Ave Tampa 33629. Interment will be private at a later date. Thank you for sharing in the life of our Renaissance Man. We are struggling to right our ship and get on with living to make him proud and satisfied in the legacy he left for us all.