Patrick Demarest Egan

Patrick Demarest Egan unexpectedly passed away on July 20, 2024, at home in Herndon, Virginia. He was born on November 1, 1975, at the Naval Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island. Patrick is survived by his father, Dennis James Egan, and his sister, Siobhan Denise Egan. His mother, Paula Demarest Egan, passed away in 2021. He is also survived by aunts, uncles and dozens of cousins from the devoted Egan and Demarest Families. 

Patrick grew up in a Navy family and lived in many parts of the country including Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, South Carolina, Hawaii and California. Eventually, the family settled for the longest time in Fairfax, Virginia. Patrick graduated from James W. Robinson Secondary School in 1993. He then studied at the College of William and Mary after which Patrick returned to live in Northern Virginia, eventually making his home in Herndon.

Patrick was a bright, curious child and through the devotion of his mother, became an avid reader, a trait he continued throughout his life, and he was often found on his Kindle reader enjoying topics ranging from science fiction and fantasy to technology. He discovered a love of music at an early age, starting piano lessons in 4th grade and graduating to the oboe in middle school and the saxophone in high school. He was a member of several music groups in the award-winning Robinson music program including the Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble and the 200-person Marching Rams. 

During Patrick’s high school and college years, he was especially active in Catholic youth and campus ministries, enjoying attending and helping to lead retreats, traveling to different areas of the country for week-long service projects and serving as a sacristan for daily masses on campus. These communities were sources of great fellowship and friendship for Patrick.

Patrick was an early user of computer technology starting with his father’s Apple II in 1981 and continuing throughout the rest of his life. He was part of the computer help team at William and Mary and turned that experience into a career. He worked at several computer system companies before joining what would eventually become Verizon where he worked for more than 20 years. His team members always found him inquisitive and willing to take on any new system or programming language needed. Patrick understood the most complex aspects of information technology but had a gift of being able to explain it clearly to non-technology persons something his mother always appreciated when she began to use the technology herself. When she had a question, she always went to Patrick. 

Patrick, along with his father and sister, was an avid New York Yankee fan. In addition to cheering them on during televised games, he enjoyed traveling to see them play both in nearby Baltimore, or joining his father and sister in Florida for annual trips to see the Yankees play when they visited the Rays in St Petersburg. He also enjoyed a memorable weekend when the three of them traveled to New York to take in a home game at the new Yankee Stadium in celebration of his father’s birthday. 

Throughout his life, Patrick was always a lover of animals. From large zoos, aquariums and animal parks to small local petting zoos to neighborhood and family pets or just chasing birds in the park, if there were animals to be found, Patrick was there. Once established in a place of his own, he was quick to add a pet to his home and adopted his first cat, JD. After JD passed, he opted to rescue his next cat and brought home Elwood in 2012. He was a devoted and loving pet-parent and Elwood was a faithful companion. Patrick’s family is grateful to his dear friend Kate and her husband for adopting Elwood and giving him a new, loving home.

A Mass of Christian Burial and Inurnment will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida on August 10, 2024, at 2 PM. A reception will follow the service at the Parish Cultural Center. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Deepwood Animal Rescue Fund (DARF). This organization was very close to Patrick’s heart. Donations may be made online through their website- https://www.deepwoodveterinaryclinic.com/adoption (click on “donate” button). Donations may also be sent by mail with checks made payable to: Deepwood Animal Rescue Fund (or DARF) 7300 Ordway RD, Centerville, VA 20121.