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Patrick J. McCormick
Patrick J. McCormick of East Hampton, formerly of Argentina, died at his home on Wednesday, February 8. He was 90.
Mr. McCormick was born on May 21, 1921, on a farm in Argentina, about 150 miles north of Buenos Aires, to Patrick McCormick and Catalina Fagan. After he lost both his parents at a young age, he was raised by his grandmother and older sisters in a town inhabited by Irish immigrants, so he grew up speaking Spanish and English. After Mr. McCormick served in the Argentine Army as a calvary soldier, he moved to New York in the early 1950s and opened his own firm, McCormick Trading Company in 1959.
Last year, Mr. McCormick celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife Elena in Buenos Aires, where they, along with members of their family, stayed in an estancia, or estate, near his birthplace.
As one who enjoyed fine food, wine and traveling, he and Elena traveled frequently to Argentina, Mexico and other countries around the world. Mr. McCormick loved to cook and was always elegantly attired for every occasion.
According to family who discovered a newspaper clip from 1955, Mr. McCormick was a lead scorer in a polo match between a local Southampton team and a team of players for Argentina—something he had not told them about.
A man who learned to ski in his 40s, Mr. McCormick was an adventurous man, family said. His wife Elena also discovered a pilot’s license from Argentina in a stack of old papers.
“Now we can imagine him soaring through the skies and resting there today,” said his son, Patrick J. McCormick.
In addition to his wife of 51 years, Elena, he is survived by his sons, Patrick J. McCormick of Virginia and Michael J. McCormick of New Rochelle; and grandchildren, Patrick, Amanda, Carolina, and Christopher.
A funeral Mass took place on Saturday, February 11, at the Most Holy Trinity Church in East Hampton. Interment followed at the church’s cemetery.
on Feb 14, 2012