A simple letter is all it took. A letter to a coach from someone with no athletic ability saying he simply wanted to "be a part of something" and asking for a job as a team manager. It signified Patrick Moore's entry into the Madonna University athletic family.
The envelope included a personalized baseball card and a personal business card that, rather than a company or job title, simply stated "All-Around Good Guy."
A high school in common and a curiosity about the person behind the mailing led head baseball coach Greg Haeger to meet with Patrick. He was instantly brought on board as the baseball team manager.
Patrick excelled as a manager, but he wanted more. He loved the sport and developed an interest in keeping statistics as well. That interest brought a second meeting, a second instant hire, and a second title: team manager and statistician. It was 1999 and Patrick was a 20-year-old transfer student who lacked self-confidence, but still put himself out there to pursue his dreams.
Slowly, he morphed from a baseball-only affiliation to getting involved with all the Madonna sports teams. He supported all the athletes, regardless of the sports they played, and sat alongside them in classrooms. He helped them however he could and hung around with them like he was one of them.
His desire to be a part of something didn't end there. He worked at the local CVS Pharmacy, became student-editor of the Madonna Herald, and worked with every sport keeping statistics, writing game stories, or whatever else was needed - well, except for line judging.
When Madonna hired a new sports information director, he saw the potential in Patrick and pushed him to greater heights as a student assistant. He groomed Patrick and forced him to grow out of his comfort zone. Before long, Patrick graduated and it was time for him to find is place in the world.
Patrick was signed, sealed and delivered to start a graduate assistant job at Saginaw Valley State University after turning down a position at Gonzaga University when a sudden opening at the University of Detroit caught his eye. Patrick snatched a two-year paid internship with the school closer to home.
The shy, introvert who came to Madonna four years earlier was walking away as a confident man, ready for NCAA Division I athletics and the challenges ahead. His days as a Crusader provided many great memories and were the spring board to a professional career.
Madonna sports information director Matt Fancett would reach out to Pat from time-to-time whenever help was needed for a busy weekend or a hectic night. Unfailingly, Patrick showed up to help his alma mater doing stats, writing stories, taking pictures, and other duties as assigned often without pay. Despite two years as an intern and two more years as a full-time employee at Detroit, Patrick was still a Madonna Crusader.
Truth be told, from that first meeting with Coach Haeger in 1999, Patrick never left Madonna. He was a Crusader through and through.
Once again, a surprise job opening put Patrick on a different path. He returned to Madonna as the school's fourth sports information director.
The beginning was not all peaches and cream, as it never is with anyone. There were challenges to face, obstacles to overcome and relationships to build, but somewhere along the way Patrick became the face of Madonna Athletics. Student-athletes, and eventually all students, gravitated to him, coaches stopped by to chat, and administrators looked to him for help. He could always be heard greeting each of them by name.
Patrick's work also began to flourish. His publications gained attention and the awards piled up. Committees sought out his expertise. Students counted on him for game day operations. Parents and fans relied on his ability to spin any story in favor of Madonna. Patrick had finally made it and was rewarded with being named the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Mike Dean SID of the Year. It was a well-deserved and earned honor and Patrick was the first three-time recipient. He was good at what he did and, at that time, it mattered very much to him.
Achieving success was Patrick's dream, but it wasn't everything Patrick thought it would be. He felt like something was missing and he soon began to blossom in a way few can or are even willing to try. He became everyone's friend. You could not walk down the athletic hallway, attend a Madonna sporting event, or have any Madonna social media connection without interacting with Patrick Moore.
Like all the great ones, it was still never enough for him. He was always searching for something more, though he was ever really able to nail down exactly what more was.
He was told on multiple occasions how much everyone loved him and how he would be a legend if he just was himself, that it would be enough.
Still, as his happiness and peace of mind grew, a bit of personal dissatisfaction always snuck through. Not so much with life, but he just always wanted more. He struggled in his own mind with what it was he sought.
What he didn't see is that he had become the heartbeat for an entire athletics department. His zeal for the game and love for the student-athletes pumped the blood into Madonna Athletics. He simply gave and gave, and when everyone thought he was done, he gave some more. He gave his heart to Madonna athletes, Madonna coaches, and the entire Madonna community.
He gave us candy. He gave us rides. He gave us laughs. He gave us hugs. He gave us stories. He gave us friendship. He gave us himself.
Suddenly, he didn't care about the awards and recognition. He was happy because the Madonna family was happy – he made us happy.
Finally, he gave so much of his heart to us that his heart failed him.
Well my friend, as you look down upon us, you no doubt now see that what you were seeking was here all along. Everyone's friend is gone. Everyone is missing you. Tears have been shed, stories have been written, and memories shared. And guess what? None of them concern awards or publications or a "tight-twitter game."
No my friend, what you hopefully see now is that we all loved Patrick Moore the man. The mantra on your card was right all along – you were an All-Around Good Guy.
That is how you go from All-Around Good Guy to Legend.
- Anonymous
Click here to watch a tribute video put together by some of Patrick's "athletes."
