Patrick Matthew Cassin

 8/20/1952 – 5/14/2020

 

Pat M. Cassin passed away peacefully at Providence/Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, on Thursday, May 14, 2020, at the age of 67, after a short illness. As he took his last breaths, his daughter, Sarah, was reading Flower Fables by Jane Austin, playing Celtic and Classical music, singing, and lastly playing “Mrs. Underwood’s Waltz” all via the hospital iPad. This song was a particular favorite of he and his wife, written by Geoffrey Castle. The music has a Celtic influence and Pat would say he felt like he was floating in the water, that it mimicked the ripples. He so loved the ocean and water of any kind.

 

He was born August 20, 1952, to Matthew Joseph Cassin and Mary Therese (Toohey) Cassin, in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife Kathy grew up together in Louisville from infancy. They went their separate ways after dating some through high school and early college. Their parents were best friends with the dads in each other’s wedding.  In 2010, they finally found one another again after 40 years with Pat in Alaska and Kathy in Pennsylvania. He was the love of her life.

 

Pat is survived by his wife of five years, Kathy M. (Zimmermann) Cassin, two children, Sarah Lorraine Cassin of New York City, Gabriel Bently Cassin, Alaska, and a stepson, Zachary B. (Sara) Schlotthauer of Manheim, PA. He has two great-grandchildren, Toby and Penny Jo Schlotthauer. He even taught Toby to play the harmonica. In addition, he is survived by his brother Mike J. (Kim) Cassin, and sister Barbara A. Cassin all of White Oak, TX as well as two nieces, Dr. Kathleen (Thomas) Harris, a great nephew and great niece, and another niece Pam Shaker, all of Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his beloved son Jeremiah Barrett Cassin, Alaska.

 

Pat would often say he lived under a “Wandering Star”, not staying in any one place too long. He graduated from Trinity High School in 1970, Louisville, KY. Attended one year at the University of Kentucky with the intent of studying Geology, before joining the Air Force (1972-1976) and going to training with the Army Corp of Engineers at Fort Belvoir in DC. He was then stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, WY and from there served 6 months in Southeast Asia towards the end of the Vietnam War. He learned to work with explosives and to dive while in the service. 

 

He was a skilled marksman, photographer, hunter, fisherman, and a collector of rocks.  He worked as a deputy sheriff in Curry County, OR, as an accomplished commercial diver for sea urchins and sea cucumbers in both CA and AK; and, in AK blasted rock, put up electrical towers, and worked for the Alaska Marine Highway for a number of years.  Pat was also a certified EMT in Oregon, Washington, and for the Marine Highway. He loved variety in his life working many types of jobs. Because of these varied experiences, Pat had hundreds of stories he loved to share with friends from far and wide. Geology, farming, and the floor of the ocean were his greatest interests.  He found the most peace and solitude while diving and had many friends that were divers as well. His latest interest was working the land that he and his wife bought 5 years ago to settle on just outside of Kendrick, ID.  He loved farming, from the time of picking strawberries at 5 years old to working the land in OR, to running a tractor and planting apple trees, raspberries, and vegetables here in ID. The two days before he went to the hospital, he was on his tractor plowing up his garden and that of a neighbor. He was grateful to those at the University of Idaho Extension Office that shared ideas with him.

 

He also helped a lot of Veterans in many ways, out of great respect for the Marines that pulled him out of Southeast Asia when he was burned. He believed in giving back and paying it forward. He cherished his family and friendships wherever he lived. He will be missed by many.

 

We would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare team members at Sacred Heart, and the Life Flight crew that transported him to Spokane, for the kind compassionate care we received. This was such a difficult time to be ill and the staff was so considerate.

 

Donations in memory of Pat may be sent to Divers Alert Network, Atten. Garrett Boyles, 6 W. Colony Place, Durham, NC 27705, or to the American Heart Association.  Please note on the check in memory of Patrick M. Cassin.

 

As he was cremated, a Celebration of Pat’s Life will be held later in Kendrick, ID and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Louisville in the fall where he and his wife grew up together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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