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Marilyn's On the Run! Racing to Save Lives... In Memory of Pat Let's support Marilyn in her marathon to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Photos of Pat Pat composed a
few Purple Crush T-shirt parodies: We wore our shirts Do you have a
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 Memories of Pat Haas Our dear friend and
colleague, Pat's friends may honor
his memory by contributing to the
Viewing will be at Heritage Funeral Home, 6830 W. Thunderbird, from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday with a prayer service at 7. Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Friday at Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral, 6351 North 27th Avenue (Between Bethany Home Road and Glendale Ave on 27th Avenue) Larry Bohlender
 Colleagues,Faculty Senate sends deepest sympathy to Pat's family and all who knew, respected, and loved him. Pat served students and colleagues long and well; he will be missed, but remain in our hearts and minds for years to come. May he rest in peace. Sincerely, Carmela
Kathleen Furlong wrote: To all, I am so sad, shocked, as I'm sure we all are. This is a certainly a great loss. I saved every one of the Valentine Day cards he gave me and I'm so glad I did. I'll always remember the first time I got one, my very first year at GCC--how funny he was when he snuck into my office and put it on my desk (while I was distracted by something I was doing at the computer). I'm so very grateful that I got to know this wonderful, fun-loving, kind, witty man and I'm sure he will be part of my GCC memories forever. I'm just sorry that his time with us was shortened. Is there anything we can do for his family--wife, children? his close friends? Ruth, Larry--what do you need? Our thoughts are with you, too, and everyone else who loved Pat. Nothing I can say can express how very sad this is, but sharing it with the people who knew Pat, certainly better than I, helps a little. Casey What heart-breaking news! I, too, am shocked and very
sad. One can never be prepared for such news. I remember shortly after my
father passed away, and I was feeling such sadness and grief, Pat came up
to me and gave me a hug--a long, tight, sincere hug. I have carried that
gesture of kindness around with me ever since. For Pat, my heart is filled
with love and gratitude, and I will forever appreciate the impact he had
on my life and in my world. Renee Pat Haas was a very kind and thoughtful man - my deepest sympathies to his family and all his good friends in the English department. Regis Della-Calce Hi Dawn and Larry, Carol Rodrigues From: Fernando Camou He will certainly be missed by all of us who met
him. Both my daughters got to enjoy having him as a caring and wonderful
instructor. Thank you for the information. Larry:
Betty Hufford I'll always remember Pat's smiling face popping around the corner of my office saying, "Mornin' Miz Dinchak!" He was cheerful and always positive, a much appreciated characteristic around here. When Pat became ill, we always thought he'd come back to teach. I remember he was excited about teaching online and was a guest reviewer one semester in my ENG101 classes. Pat loved teaching, and I know he's teaching someone now, helping someone find the answers and feel better about himself. Pat was an encourager and a fighter, always believing we could make it better. When Pat was ill, we emailed and stayed in touch. One time I was upset about some things going on at school, and I developed a case of hives on my arms. Dear Pat was so concerned and asked what I was doing for it. He shared what had worked for him when he had hives, and was so supportive. I was rereading his emails lately and this is what he wrote to me: I hope you can learn to let these things slide and not put your health in jeopardy over them, Marla. Well, you take care and thanks for your kind words. These type of e-mails from my colleagues mean so much to me. I can never get enough of them Pat Pat was a genuinely kind and caring person, a true gentleman. I'll miss him. Marla
In Memory of Pat: Until then, live your life
to its fullest. …I will be there. Olivia Templeton
Jim Reed Jim, It's difficult for me to remember one specific memory
or experience, since Pat was ALWAYS Pat. Kind, gentle, funny, giving -
caring father, husband, teacher, friend. He taught me/us much about how
to live for life and how to fight for life. His was certainly a life well
lived, and I know my live is, was and will be better for having known
him. Thanks, Pat. Although Pat was absent physically from the
department over the last three years, he continued to volunteer in the
Writing Center -- I'd send him one or two of the electronically-submitted
essays each week, and he'd send them back to the students. His comments
were always friendly, gentle, and focused on just what exactly was wrong
with the students' writing, and how it could be improved (in fact, at
least two of the students whom he helped asked specifically for him the
next time they submitted an essay). I will never forget Pat Haas. Whenever I came into the English Dept to see my mom while I was at GCC and Pat was around, he would come in and say, "Hi Honey!". At first, I didn't know why but I later learned that he was greeting me just like my mom would. Pat always had a smile on his face and was always so cheerful. Those smiles were contagious. He seemed to just brighten up the room when he came in. And he could always make me smile even if I was having a rough day at school. His memory will live on forever. Angela Bertram
Remembering Pat... I did not have the pleasure of sharing in Pat's sharp
wit and gentle nature on a regular basis, but it is Pat who first planted
the seed some twelve years ago that I should expand my career to include
adjunct ESL. I met Pat in the gym as we both sweat it out on the
bicycles. Recently divorced and feeling at odds with the world, Pat was a
sane and kind soul listening and gently convincing me that my life was not
over. Some time later, with Jane Camp's help, I nurtured that seed and
started to teach at GCC.
When I was in the Innovation Center, Pat would drop by my office between classes, and we'd chat about riding and long trips and motorcycles. He was very interested in my coast-to-coast trip, and then later in my trip to Alaska. He had great suggestions and a kind of wistful I-wish-I-could-do-that manner that all riders have when they talk to other riders about road trips (although he had several long trips under his own belt). I never rode with him, but I'm sure he was a fun and kind member of any group. I know that where he is (HOG Heaven perhaps) there are lots of riders as well as sunny skies, cool days, dry roads, and gentle curves ahead. Karen I am at a loss for words. There are so many good memories of Pat. He was one of
the first in the English department to become a friend when we discovered
we'd both lived in north Texas. I enjoyed his wit, his warmth, and his
genuine interest in sharing thoughts about family, work, the state of the
world- he could talk about anything. When he and Ruth conversed, it was
"Whoa! Hold on!" The two were so entertaining. Pat also played a role in
my surviving my medical crisis. I don't think I
would have made it through if I hadn't been fit. He encouraged me to sign
up for the Fitness Center many years back. Later, when I left the hospital
and had to go for what seemed endless lab tests and follow up doctor
visits, Pat was an example then, too. I would remind myself that what I
was going through was nothing compared to his many treatments and doctor
visits. He
was tough and I could be, too. I don't think any of us can fully express
how lucky we've been to have been one of Pat's friends. I'm one of your adjuncts and I never had the pleasure or honor of meeting Pat. But reading all your emails makes me think of a card a friend once sent me: "To teach is to touch a life forever." Surely this applies to Pat. From everything each of you has written, this is the consistent memory -- what teaching meant to him. And I would bet there are lots of students out there who will never forget him. He can't be "gone" while those memories (and the invaluable "lessons") linger. Please share my thoughts with his family. Kevan So many of you have written such affectionate and
eloquent tributes to Pat that I scarcely know what else to say, but I did
just want to add one thing: my friend “Chef Pat” in the kitchen -- cooking
Thanksgiving dinner, and inviting my husband John, my mother and me every
single year starting with my fledgling OYO in 1991-1992. My mother did not
always come, but John and I did. I will always remember Pat poking his head in my
office and saying, "HI, Hane." I too have kept his valentine cards and
will always cherish them. Shortly after he became ill, I bought a
Stanford cap for him. In the note I sent with the hat, I told him that the
"S" stood for "Superman" and that
he was a "superman" too. In his thank you note, he wrote back that the
"S" stood for "survivor" as well. He did survive for a long time, but just
not long enough for the rest of us. We selfishly didn't want him to go,
but that decision was not up to us. I will miss him tremendously, but he
will always be in my heart. As a relatively new adjunct, I did not know Pat Haas – but all of your memories of him read like lessons on how to live a giving, committed and caring life. I have appreciated and learned from them. Loyd Brazzel I, too, did not know Pat, but, like Loyd, I wish I had. Your loving tributes remind me that a life well lived, a life that reflects God’s love, is our ultimate goal. Thanks for the reminder. Jody Woerner Thank you—and all—for sharing the memories with me.
When I was very new at GCC, Betty asked me to take on an 071 in
mid-semester that Pat had to let go. Pat mentored me into that course
via class visitation, discussions of how he did it, lots of
wonderfully effective handouts and ideas for using textbook material. Much
more than that, I got to experience his special rapport and graciousness
with his students. He was, in short, not only a great help but an
inspiring model. English Faculty, I did not know Pat Haas, as I am a relatively new to the English Department at Glendale, but if he was the kind of person who really liked bikers and bicyclists then he was the kind of guy I would like to know. It sounds like he was the kind of person who gave everyone a chance---a perfect community college teacher, and from what I can tell he was lucky to have colleagues and friends who appreciated him so much. My deepest condolences.---Mimi Schlein Pat and I both transferred in from PC, a year apart.
Later, we found that we had both been warned by our colleagues at PC that
the GCC faculty was "different" (or less polite appelations). Well, I
guess we both were too, since this became our home. Pat and I shared a few commonalties beyond our interest
in good food: working class backgrounds, Vietnam angst (one of my twin
brother's was there about the same time as Pat), speaking for the
underdog, an avid interest in faculty governance, and a genuine concern
for people, especially students. Carmela Arnoldt English gang -- My Memories of and Memorial to Pat Haas-- Pat is one of those unforgettable characters we used to read about in Reader’s Digest. It took a person about two minutes after meeting Pat to know he was going to be a good friend. Those who didn’t figure it out by then probably don't have any good friends. Pat is unforgettable because he never met a stranger; no matter who you were or where you were or what you looked like or what age you were, Pat just naturally liked you and would talk with you as long as you wanted or as long as he could. Pat is unforgettable because, like Will Rogers, he never met a man (or woman) he didn’t like. And he surely met some people that forgettable folks would not like very well at all. I think he never learned how to hate; it wasn't possible for him. Harley riders or bicycle riders, his love for people never changed. Pat is unforgettable because he never got angry, even though life in recent years gave him plenty to be angry about. Sometimes others expressed anger for him, but Pat always remained even, measured and without anger. After Pat had to leave teaching, Ruth's husband John and I met monthly --when Pat or we could -- for lunch at the Haas house. Those lunches were marked by what some, I suppose, would accurately call man talk. We talked about sports. He's from Michigan, and I'm from Ohio; he was Navy, I was Air Force. So, there was no problem finding different points of view to express. We talked about politics and solved problems worldwide, nationally, in Arizona, as well as GCC, of course. Sometimes John and I would agree; sometimes we would find ourselves on different sides of an issue. Pat always found a way to agree with both of us -- all the time. Pat is unforgettable because he was forever pulling little tricks on his GCC friends, mostly his English Dept. colleagues. But he wasn't very good at it. He'd often stop short of getting the "victim's" goat because he didn't really want to embarrass anyone, in any way. That was just Pat. But Pat is unforgettable mostly because of his courage as he battled cancer for years. As we all know, he would struggle to make progress, getting up the mountain, only to slip down on a slippery slope that seemed to always find his path. But, each time he began the climb again and struggled to regain that lost ground. Forgettable people see the slippery slope on the hillside and don't even get started. Pat's struggle is over, but he remains unforgettable. Larry Bohlender Did you ever notice how Pat naturally turned the
conversation so that the focus was on you, or me, or someone else? Of
course, at times he would speak about himself. We all do. Seemingly,
though, Pat would
have rather that you or I be the center of attention and not himself.
Maybe it was his good manners, or his modesty, or maybe it was just the
way he was raised? I don't know. But whatever it was, Pat had that
quality in abundance. To be sure, he was the kind of man who genuinely
was concerned more about your feelings or about mine. He had a way of
putting the other person first. James Sanders We've Lost a Good Friend Pat was a Charter member of the Metro Motorsports Sunday Cruisers and its first Secretary. He published the newsletter for many years and attended most of the rides. I got to know Pat more after he stopped riding, and visited with him from time to time. Our commonality was that we were both Vietnam Vets and he always wanted to see the pictures, watch the DVD and hear the stories about "Run For The Wall." He told me that one of the reasons he kept fighting was to make that ride in 2007. He will be on that ride in our hearts. from the Metro Motorsports' Casual Good Times! Sunday Cruisers newsletter.
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Although we had been colleagues for some time, I
really got to know Pat when I was department chair. It seemed I was often
in the office at the computer so we became email buddies. Any good jokes
(and some questionable ones) I forwarded immediately to Pat. Pat wrote me
about campus politics, campus gossip, his colleagues, his kids, and later
on how he was feeling that day. But our favorite topics might have been
the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Tigers.
Pat always remembered to give out Valentines, the
kind little kids bring to school. I used to tell Pat--and my
husband!--that often Pat's was the only Valentine I received. Pat
was thoughtful and courageous; he had friends as different (on the
surface, at least) as Ruthie and Jim Reed; he rode a motorcycle and was an
official member of the Big Nate Fan Club (I kid you not). Pat was proud
of his family and of our profession. I didn't know until a few minutes
ago that he was all this and a Steelers fan too, but I sure do like
Betty's idea! I'll miss Pat, but I hope I never forget his example of
courage and faith.
Dear Friends,
I've been going over and over in my mind what I
didn't get a chance to say to Pat and what to say now. 
I still remember the time I was outside Pat’s
office, waiting to ask about a student and hearing his voice as he talked
into his phone, “I miss seeing you.” I was worried for just a minute until
I heard his voice say, “Mrs. Haas, I will be home in a few minutes.” He
always had something good to say about his wife and his kids. I don’t know
if anyone could have been prouder of all of them. When his first one went
off to college, he wondered whether or not Bubba would come back home or
if he would settle somewhere else. He taught extra classes so that he
could put them through college, and he was proud of every accomplishment
of every child. He always had an update on them, but he never forgot to
ask me how my son was doing and follow his progress 
At that time, I only knew Pat as "that guy at
the gym," until he came charging out of his office one day, claiming to
Jane that I was his friend. And what a friend he was.