Patrick Scanlon Dies At 61

Patrick Scanlon

Patrick Scanlon of Sag Harbor died at Southampton Hospital on Tuesday, September 13. He was 61.

Born on September 6, 1950, to Kenneth and Nora “Peg” Scanlon at Southampton Hospital, he was the second of eight children. He attended Sacred Hearts grade school in Southampton and Our Lady of Mercy High School in Riverhead. In high school he played on both the basketball and golf teams, was a member of the varsity club, and president of his senior class.

After graduating high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged at the end of his service. He then studied to become a lab technician and worked at Southampton Hospital for many years until he wanted a change and entered into a partnership for co-ownership of Meghan’s Saloon in Water Mill.

In 1976 he married Marjorie Bishop and together they had two sons, Brian and Tyler and they shared many memorable experiences. In the early 1980s he and his wife purchased property in a wooded area in North Sea to build their dream house. As he decided to do the work himself he began clearing the land and suddenly he became sick. His symptoms at the time puzzled the doctors and could not be diagnosed so his ill health continued. Many years later he was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, a fairly new disease carried by a tick.

When he and his wife divorced, they sold their house. He built another home and eventually sold that as well and moved to Kentucky with his son Tyler. He found work again as a lab technician at the local hospital and worked there a few years until he was too sick to work.

His sister, who also lives in Kentucky, drove him all the way from Kentucky to Stony Brook Hospital so he could be near family members, and was admitted to the intensive care unit. For the last two years he lived in Sag Harbor with his brother, and although he was quite ill he was still grateful to be alive and realized just how much his family loved him and would do all they could to help him.

Last week when he was admitted to Southampton Hospital he thought all he needed was to receive the correct antibiotics and he would recover but his sonogram showed he had a very weak heart, liver and kidneys. This time around he had the will to live but not the strength. An autopsy has been performed to help determine the cause of his illness and to further assist in the research for Lyme disease.

He is survived by his mother, Nora “Peg” Scanlon of Southampton; siblings, Kenneth of Southampton, Sean, Michael, and Maureen, all of Sag Harbor, Kathleen Jaggers of Kentucky, and Colleen and Noreen, both of Southampton. His two sons, Brian of Southampton and Tyler of Kentucky; his ex-wife, Marjorie Bishop; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton. A funeral Mass was held on Saturday, September 17, at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Roman Catholic Church on Hill Street in Southampton. Cremation followed.