It is with heavy hearts that the family of Patrick (Paddy) Murro announce his passing on September 4, 2016 with his loved ones by his side.
Paddy was born in Fort William, Ontario on August 20, 1936 and was the only son of Angelina (Sis) and Patrick Murro. He attended St. Stanislaus School and later Fort William Vocational. At an early age Paddy expressed an interest in all sports. He played football, baseball and had a great passion for hockey, playing with the Fort William Canadians.
He enjoyed the friendships he made and the travelling involved as the competition became keener.
When he hung up his skates he became a hockey scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs and this was a part of his life for many years.
He then moved on to coaching local amateur hockey teams and shared stories about these experiences his whole life. Paddy always joked that in May of 1958 he gave up his hockey career to marry the love of his life, Norma Joy Thornborrow.
Paddy joined the Thunder Bay Fire Department in January of 1961. During his career he made many good friends both locally and throughout the province as a firefighter and executive member of the local union. He retired as a platoon chief in February of 1995.
In Paddy’s spare time he mastered his skill of carpentry, building the family home on Westminster Street in 1962 where his two daughters Patricia and Paula were raised. Later he and lifetime friend Jimmy Hay established and operated M&H Contractors a local construction company.
It was at this time Paddy met Joe Kaplanis who began working alongside him. Little did he know Joe would become his BFF (best friend forever), “Gingo”, for the rest of his life.
Frick and Frack were inseparable. Paddy never sat idle. He was an active member of the Elks Lodge #82 for 50 years, Fort William Golf & Country Club, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and former member of the Italian Society of the DaVinci.
Paddy’s family was the love of his life. He and Norma enjoyed 58 years of marriage travelling the world to Europe, Hawaii, and Barbados, Caribbean Cruises, Mexico and spending 28 years on Fort Myers Beach in Florida.
With the birth of his grandchildren the adventures continued.
Whenever possible he would follow his grandchildren’s hockey careers and “Pugsy” would cheer them on. He enjoyed 50 years at the family camp on Lake Lenore and as the family grew so did the camp.
In 1995 Papa built an addition and added modern conveniences for everyone to enjoy. He was happiest at camp, watching his grandchildren and awaiting their next accomplishment and it was there in August of this year he celebrated his 80th birthday in great style.
Left to remember Paddy with love are his wife Norma and his daughters Trish (Frank Carangi) and granddaughters Cassandra and Bella, Paula (Roy Andreason) and grandchildren Sebastian and Keira. Also surviving are cousins Lorne and Ronnie Fucile, Jeanette McSweeney, Carole Gorrell, very special cousin Judy Hess from Kelowna BC (here) and her sons Jodi Hodgson from Calgary AB (here) and Kyle Pihlstrom.
He was predeceased by his parents Patrick (1962) and Sis (1995) and his in-laws Norman Thornburrow (1987) and Doris (1982).
A celebration of Paddy’s life will take place at the DaVinci Centre on Thursday September 8 at 3 pm. Words of remembrance will be spoken at 4:30 pm. As expressions of sympathy donations to the Heart and Stroke foundation or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
“You will always be our hero”
Patrick Murro will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 11, 2017.
