Register here for the Pat Grange ALS Open at the Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club in Sandia Park, NM on May 20, 2013.PATRICK age 29, passed away peacefully at his home on April 10,
surrounded by loved ones. He was born on Nov. 4th, 1982, in his South
Valley home in Albuquerque. He is surived by his parents, Michael and
Michele, his brother Casey and wife Melissa and their children, Addison
and Michael, his brother Ryan and girlfriend Ali Sward, his grandmother
Betty Grange, and his girlfriend Amanda Aragon and her mother Veronica.
From the time Pat could walk, it was evident that he would become a
gifted athlete. He excelled at baseball, basketball, and golf; but his
true passion was soccer. He and his brother, Ryan, helped lead the AHS
Bulldogs to the state soccer final in 1998. His club teams won numerous
state championships. He participated in the Olympic Development Soccer
Program and was the Tribune High School Soccer Player of the Year. Pat
played two years of college soccer at the University of Illinois at
Chicago before transferring to UNM, where he helped lead the Lobos into
the Sweet Sixteen in 2004 with two game winning goals. Also during
college, Pat played with the Chicago Fire Reserve MLS Team. After
college, he played with the Albuquerque Assylum semi-pro team and spent
three months pursuing pro soccer in England. Patrick coached high
school, O.D.P. and club soccer, and also the Lil' Kickers 3 year olds.
He was assistant manager at the International Indoor Soccer Arena. This
past year Patrick was inducted in the AHS Hall of Fame, being the first
soccer player to do so. It should also be noted that Pat was a talented
drummer and loved to dance. Patrick has been described as quiet,
optimistic, nonjudgemental, kind, brave, loving, sensitive, humorous and
a really handsome guy, with a brilliant smile and sparkling eyes. He
was blessed with love, respect and friendship of all who met him. The
many various fundraisers held for him since his illness were a tribute
to his character. Patrick was diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease 17
months ago. Generating ALS awareness and research became his passion.
In spite of his shy demeanor, he was instrumental in making a
difference, including the declaration of February 3rd as an annual ALS
Day in New Mexico. Our family would especially like to thank UNMH,
Harmony Home Health Care & Hospice, French Funeral Home and the ALS
Association. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in Patrick's
name, to the ALS Association-2000 Randolph Rd. SE Suite 107 ABQ 87106,
or ALSTDI Research-300 Technology Square, Suite 400, Cambridge, MA
02139, or The Patrick Grange Soccer Development Fund at ACF, Albuquerque
Community Foundatio-P.O.Box 36960 ABQ 87176 or
albuquerquefoundation.org/donate A celebration of Pat's life will be held on Sunday, April 22, at 10:30 am at the UNM soccer stadium.
