Patrick Anton Fix

Patrick Anton Fix, born in Barberton, Ohio November 7, 1943, died May 31, 2025 in Columbus, grew up across from Schiller Park where he played baseball, football, and sledded happily. Preceded in death by son Eric Byron Fix, parents Paul Anthony Fix and Elizabeth Rochester Fix, grandparents Fred and Margaret Rochester, brother Michael Rochester Fix, and sister Mary Paulette Fix, Pat is survived by Charlene, his wife of 54 years, children Madeleine Fix, Sonya Fix, and Daniel (Sharon) Fix, grandchildren Kip Fix Hansen and Joshua Boaz Fix, sisters Kathi (Jack) Gordon and Sue Piro, and many nieces and nephews.

Pat attended Saint Mary School, where he was an altar boy and played sports, then transferred to Holy Rosary, his parents’ alma mater, for his last two years of high school, becoming quarterback of his high school football team and class President. He was a man of varied interests who lived life in phases through work and studies at The Ohio State University. From to B.A. (Philosophy), M.A. and A.B.D. (English), and later studying agriculture, Pat was a lifelong learner in the sciences and religion, particularly Anabaptist movements. He admired Amish and indigenous peoples, taught writing and literature at OSU, then for twenty years, catalogued rare American literary texts in Special Collections at the OSU Libraries. After retirement, he took many classes in the Over 60’s Program.

Pat had a subtle and esoteric sense of humor. He was an intellectual, an athlete, and a political radical in youth who maintained his leftist, pro-labor convictions. He composted, hung laundry on a line in the sun, enjoyed countryside hikes at Malabar Farm or on the Kokosing Trail, and buying eggs and vegetables from Ohio, mostly Amish, farmers.

Pat was a father who shared care, providing for, and teaching his children, and was proud of their accomplishments. He nurtured serial pets: Bruno, Sasha, and Harpo (dogs), Ribby, Kizzy, and Rhonda (cats). During the last few challenging years, he enjoyed two walks a day to see passing trains and neighborhood cats.

Many thanks to National Church Residencies Hospice team: Gabe, Amy, and Tina, for generous support, to OSU nursing students Grace, Sana, and Megan; to caregivers Henry, Tonya, Nicola, and Crystal; to neighbors Mr. Hopps (cat) for visits, Debbie, Greg, Justin, Kathy, Barb, and Jamie, for help with the yard and emotional support; to sister Laura for food drops, to sister Kathi for visits and devotion; to The Grove for respite, Eastland Nursing Center for physical therapy and kindness, and to many friends for gifts, flowers, food, offers of help, understanding, and compassion, over the years.

Donations in Pat’s memory can be made to Southwest Indian Foundation, Best Friends Animal Rescue, Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, or a Peace and Social Justice organization of your choice. A Memorial gathering will be held at our home on June 21, 2025, 2:00-5:00 pm.

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