Patrick Joseph Golden

Born in Ballycastle, Ireland, in 1947 to Patrick and Delia Golden (née Burke), Patrick was one of eight siblings. He attended secondary school at St. Muredach’s in Ballina, where his academic promise earned him a scholarship to attend the Gaeltacht immersion program — a program dedicated to preserving the Irish language and culture. Known affectionately as “the brain” by at least one of his sisters, Patrick always had a keen intellect and a lifelong love of history and reading. He briefly attended seminary at Maynooth University and went on to complete two Master’s degrees in History and English.

Patrick began his career as a history teacher, teaching Irish history in both Belmullet and Dublin before eventually teaching American history in Memphis at the University of Memphis. A gifted athlete as well as a scholar, he played on the Mayo Under 21 (Gaelic) football team in 1967, winning an All-Ireland medal, and later won several additional county football medals with the North Mayo team. He was also selected to play for an Irish football team based in New York City, where he lived for a time during the season.

He met the love of his life, Mary, on a football pitch in the west of Ireland. They were married in Dublin in December 1974 and soon after moved to the United States, where they built a life together and welcomed their daughter, Caolinn. Patrick and Mary shared 51 happy years of marriage.

In Memphis, Patrick followed in the footsteps of his father, “Packy” Golden, becoming a general contractor. He co-founded Design Specialties and co-owned the business for more than 40 years, helping build it into a respected local construction company. They constructed their own office from the ground up and worked on projects throughout the Memphis area, including notable sites such as Graceland, the Navy Base (NSA Midsouth), Memphis International Airport, and the Brass Door. Once, when his young daughter rode her tricycle through their house, he smiled and told Mary, “A house is made to be lived in,” reflecting the kind of builder he was: one more concerned with the life and love inside a home more than the wear on its floors.

Patrick was a devoted father who spent many years coaching his daughter’s basketball and soccer teams at St. Ann, often leading them to local championships. He enjoyed trips to the Florida beach to fish and walk on the shore. He also loved watching old Western films, following GAA matches with enthusiasm, and, in later years, he became an avid gardener, proudly tending to a variety of tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants. Patrick (known affectionately as “Pete”) was an especially loving and proud grandfather to his three grandsons — Joe, Theo, and Milo — who brought him the greatest joy in his final years.

Patrick was a beloved brother, friend, father, grandfather, and husband. Throughout his life, he was known for his good humor, his unmistakable laugh, his stories of “home” in Ireland, his compassion and empathy, his unwavering work ethic, and his quiet mental fortitude. Above all, he was a faithful follower of Christ in both word and deed. He will be greatly missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Delia, and his siblings Sean, Alphonsus (“Frank”), and Jacinta (“Jackie”). He leaves behind siblings Maeve, Leo, Genevieve (“Jenny”), and Geraldine; his wife, Mary Frassinelli; his daughter, Caolinn (CJ Manning); his three grandchildren Joe, Theo, and Milo; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Saint Ann Catholic Church and School, located at 6529 Stage Rd, Bartlett, TN 38134, United States, on February 27, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.The funeral service will follow at the same venue from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Burial with escorted cortege will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 1663 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38106.

Ar Dheis Dé go raibh A Anam Dílis

(“May his kind soul rest by the side of God”)