Pat, who was born in Canton, China on July 9, 1934, left home to go to high school and then college in San Francisco. He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he worked in intelligence at the rank of Staff Sergeant during the Korean War. After his time in the service, he moved to Las Vegas, NV. It was here in Vegas where he met his beautiful wife of 51 years, Candie and they had three children - Patrick Jr., Vincent, and Josalene.
Pat was best known for opening one of the first Chinese restaurants in Vegas called Pat’s Chinese Kitchen in 1960 in the Commercial Center on Sahara. Pat was one of the first true restaurateurs in Las Vegas. Ask anyone that has been in Vegas since way back when about Pat’s and you are surely to hear a slew of fond memories of the restaurant. In the early days, you would happily wait an hour or more even with a month old reservation. This includes names such as Siegfried and Roy, the former mayor Oscar Goodman and his wife Carolyn, and the Rat Pack. Pat always said the most memorable handshakes that came through his restaurant doors were Liberace, Ronald Reagan, and Sonny Liston.
In 1985, he opened a satellite kitchen in North Las Vegas called the Pat’s Spot and then renamed Pat’s Chinese Food and Minimart. He ran the restaurant with his family until 1997. He ran the satellite kitchen until 2013.
Pat was very well known in the Las Vegas Valley not just for the food, but for his charity work. He was on the Board of Directors for the City of Hope, he was also the head of the Chinese Benevolent Society, and he was a longtime supporter of Opportunity Village, The Shriners, Easter Seals, and Jerry’s kids. He also spearheaded the Meals on Wheels program that provided daily meals to elderly residents in need.
Pat’s patriotism to the United States of America was unsurpassed. He proudly told endless stories of his military service and campaigning for high profile politicians. You would always find him wearing an American flag T-shirt and/or “Proud to be a US Air Force Vet” T-shirt while cooking at his store on Martin Luther King and Owens, or a Korean War Vet trucker hat that he would not leave the house without.
He was friends with politicians such as Senator Paul Laxalt, Governor Mike O’Callaghan, and the former President Ronald Reagan, who offered him a position in the Small Business Administration, but Pat turned him down by saying, “I want to cook chop suey and raise my kids.”
He was also partners with the legendary great Sammy Davis Jr in a supper club venture called the Tropics which was on the corner of Tropicana and Paradise. How it ended up in flames is a story he loved to tell.
He also had a weekly television show called “Tea Time With Pat” where he had local celebrities come on as his guests.
Many wish they could of shook Pat’s hand goodbye and thank him for his memorable contribution to the Las Vegas history. His passing is a great loss to his family and to those that knew and loved him in the Valley.
He is survived by his wife Candie Ginn; children Patrick Ginn, Jr. and [Susanne Krasovich], Vincent Ginn, Josalene Ginn; sisters Linda Dong and How Chun Yan; and grandchildren, Michael Ginn and Rachel Ginn.
