Patrick Cunningham, 66

Patrick Cunningham passed away Nov. 6 in Leesburg after a short battle with the rare condition, Amyloidosis.

Born November 17, 1947 in Miami, Florida, Pat later graduated from Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC in 1969 where he played Varsity Soccer for four years.

Highly energetic and entrepreneurial, he turned a household hobby into a successful business during the last years of his life: He took great pride in his lawn and enjoyed working in the garden, and founded Happy Feet landscaping, and even at age 66, he could be seen around Leesburg cutting up to 10 yards a day. He enjoyed it immensely and considered all his clients friends.

But he achieved his greatest ambition when he became “Gramps” – a devious, spoiling, sometimes grumpy patriarch who could do as he pleased to dote on his grandchildren. He would frequently use those grandkids as his conspirators (often to the dismay of his daughters in law), to bring fun and smiles to the faces of those he loved.

He maintained his own sense of style and a flair for fashion, especially with his colorful collection of Puma sneakers. The man jumped at any chance to get dressed up and even owned a tuxedo, for no particular reason.

An avid reader of many genres, he devoured books and enjoyed discussing what he read or giving books to people who he thought might enjoy them. His passions included airplanes and avionics, a love inspired by his brother Bob.

While he loved to cook and experiment in the kitchen, his favorite restaurants were Burger King and KFC. No meal was complete until it was topped off with huge helpings of ice cream, most notably Strawberry Hagen Das. No dessert was safe around Pat.

Some of his best friends and memories were forged on or around the rugby pitch as he started his playing career with Atlanta Old White and George Mason University. He was a founding member of two long-standing clubs, Northern Virginia Rugby Football Club and Western Suburbs Rugby Club, where he retired as an A side player at the age of 40. None of these memories are fit to print.

The ocean was one of the only places Gramps could sit still. His love of the water developed from a youth of fishing, snorkeling, and surfing in Florida. Gramps relished just taking his grandkids to the neighborhood pool and splashing the day away. He spent fond days reading at sunrise on the Outer Banks or sailing the Chesapeake Bay with his wife Kathy aboard their sailboat. Gramps felt at home around the water, finding peace.

He is survived by his devoted wife Kathy, three sons and daughters-in-law, Patrick and Darcy, Brendon and Amy, Kelly and Shannon. He also leaves behind six beloved grandchildren- Olivia, Grace, Hannah, Bailey, Kearney, and Caden.

Please see www.colonialfuneralhome.com for condolences and arrangements.