Patrick J. McGovern, a longtime Byram resident, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, the 13 of August. He was born on April 2, 1931 in Glangevlin, County Cavan, Ireland. Pat was one of 14 children born to Edward Charles and Roseanne McGovern, and is survived by his sisters Ann, Helen, Kate and Agnes as well as his beloved brother John, of Stamford. He was predeceased by his sisters Peggy Dean, Marie McCormick and Brigid McManus and brothers Terrance, Eamon, Tommy, Phil and Charles. His dozens of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews will always remember the wit, wisdom and generosity of their beloved Uncle Pat.
Pat immigrated to the US in 1953 and served in the US Army in Europe before settling in Byram where he began a long career as a meat cutter with Finast supermarkets and The Food Mart in both Cos Cob and Old Greenwich. In his retirement, Pat was a fixture at Byram Park where he served as a gatekeeper for many years. Himself and his brother Phil and cousin Noel were instrumental in the establishment of the Greenwich St. Patrick’s Day parade as the annual event that it has become.
Well known as dapper, witty, generous and easy-going, Pat was a rabid Yankees fan who never missed a game or a chance to discuss the current team’s prospects or lack thereof. He possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of Irish history as well as that of the extended McGovern clan both here in the US and around the world.
Pat was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus, The Byram Veterans Association and The Ancient Order of Hibernians and was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Byram.
Pat will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to have known him.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, August 17 at Sacred Heart Church, Byram. Entombment followed at Putnam Cemetery.
