Last fall, as frequently happens with Peoria Music Live related things, I got overwhelmed with everything going on and ended up not getting to a blog post that I had planned on writing about a fun and talented band who made huge donations to a local charity. I often see it in my drafts folder and think that I should just go ahead and write it for this year. Only something happened yesterday that changes everything.
Jury's Out, a fantastically fun 80’s tribute band that has played to packed houses in the area for 14 years, lost lead singer Patrick yesterday due to complications from a surgery related to a cancer diagnosis.
Patrick was one of the kindest, friendliest, and most generous people that I knew.
The last time I saw him, on August 2nd, at Oliver's in the Heights, he sang "It's my life" ... Changing the words to say "Kindall said I did It my way" because, well, that’s how Patrick liked to live too… doing things his own way.
When he first heard about PML he invited me out to his show at Jac's Dog House and then, invited me up on stage. I was terrified and thrilled at the same time. That video is in this post as well as It’s My Life from their show in August.
The struggles of the homeless and those living on the margin are close to my heart. So I loved hearing about what Jury’s Out was doing from the beginning. It amazed me that they raised so much in tips for the charity, until I met Patrick. His passion was contagious and no doubt made a big impact on the giving.
It all started several years ago, when Patrick asked the other band members if they could start saving their tips specifically to donate to Home Sweet Home Ministries, and the band wholeheartedly agreed.
Home Sweet Home Ministries is a full service homeless shelter in Bloomington. According to their website, “full service” means they are “open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to feed whoever needs a meal, hug whoever needs a hug, pray for whoever needs prayer, provide safe shelter for whoever needs to rest, and we offer a way out- a life change- a fresh start” for those who are in need of that. Patrick told the audience in August, “I grew up in the ghettos of Chicago and there was nothing like this place back then.”
It wasn’t long before they were able to give the shelter $6,000 raised over the course of a year. In each of the last two years in a row they raised $15,000. I was looking forward to hearing their numbers from this year (they typically give their donation around Thanksgiving) and wouldn't have been surprised if they had surpassed that this year.
Today I'm praying for peace and comfort for Patrick's family, which reaches beyond the walls of his home and I'm sure he would say included his band mates as well as many others. And I’m writing this not only in his memory, but to encourage others to live while they’re alive, as he did… with kindness, love, and generosity.
We love you Patrick, and you will be greatly missed. You can rest assured you weren’t just a face in the crowd, and your impact on the world through your faith, love, and generosity will reach farther you ever realized possible.
This post will be updated with any celebration of life and donation information once his family has shared that publicly.
Update 9/22/19:
Patrick’s Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 24 at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington. His funeral will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 25, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Bloomington with Rev. Jeffrey Stirniman officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal.
Memorials may be directed to Central Catholic High School, Home Sweet Home Ministries or the Campbell Children’s Education Fund c/o Busey Bank.
In addition, Blo-No's ROCK Report has asked those artists who want to keep Patrick’s dream alive and support Home Sweet Home Ministries, to leave an open guitar case to collect donations to the Jury's Out's Mission for the Mission. Donations can also be made Directly to Home Sweet Home Ministries at . https://hshministries.org/donate .
You can find more information here: Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home Obituary