Joseph Patrick Patin, decorated doctor
Joseph Patrick Patin, MD, 81, died Saturday, June 23, 2018, at his residence after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease, a complication of his exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
Dr. Patin was born in Baton Rouge, La. He was the eldest son of Henry Wilmot and Mary Harriet (Domingue) Patin. Growing up he learned the value of hard work and the determination to do the best in all his pursuits. He learned the art of bricklaying from his father, and each summer he earned enough as a bricklayer to defray the costs of his undergraduate tuition at the University of Michigan, and, later his medical degree at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn.
After completing his internship and residency at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Youngstown, Ohio, he proudly served as a major in the Army Medical Corps. Dr. Patin was deployed to Vietnam where he served as chief of surgery at the 85th Evacuation Hospital; where in recognition of his efforts in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal.
His experience as a trauma surgeon in the battle zone made an everlasting impact on his career, and upon his return from the war, he established a surgical practice in Baton Rouge that was devoted primarily to the care of trauma and burn patients.
Long-distance running became a passion during his tenure in Vietnam, and he challenged himself over the years to run many marathons in Boston, New York, Houston, Atlanta, St. Louis, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. It gave him great satisfaction to run a two-hour, 51 minutes marathon at age 58.
Dr. Patin was a member of numerous medical and surgical professional organizations; he held medical staff appointments at local hospitals and civic organizations in Baton Rouge, and was a clinical instructor at Louisiana State University. He was a member of St. Edmond Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, and a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and participated in his children and grandchildren's activities.
He leaves his wife of 52 years, Rose Marie DeFiore, and their two children, a son, Joseph II (Nancy) Patin, and a daughter, Karla (Peter) Kooken. He is survived by five grandchildren: Tom, Anna, and John Kooken, Joseph III and Jude Patin; in addition to five siblings: Earlene, Jude, Ronald, Donald and Merrill.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m., followed by a requiem mass at 11 a.m., in St. Edmond Church, Rehoboth Beach, Thursday, June 28. Interment will be in Arlington Cemetery at a later date.
The family would like to publicly thank all the amazing caregivers of the Georgetown Veterans Administration Home Based Primary Care Health Team and Delaware Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Edmond Catholic Church, P.O. Box 646, Rehoboth Beach, DE, 19971, or the Rehoboth Beach Public Library, 226 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home, Berlin.
