Tales of Patrick Michael Gordonne
Photo by Briony Blaaslagen
Ceara inghean mhic an Ghabhann
It was August 2002. I was at Lughnasadh, hosted by the Shire of Loch Ruadh. I was 19 years old and called into morning court. This man who was larger than life gave me my AoA, my first ever award after starting when I was a month shy of 16. As the herald was reading my scroll I meekly looked up to him and whispered "but my father isn't here." He looked up to the crowd and saw that my Dad, Sean, wasn't there. He whispered to me "We'll do it again in evening court."
So again, I was called into evening court to receive my AoA, and my father was so very proud of me. I realize now that I just wanted to see that smile of pride on his face, since he wasn't really around in my life to see it with school or my other achievements. We only really connected through the SCA, and I believe that's the only reason I stuck around in this game. He passed away in 2012.
Patrick Michael allowed me to have that moment, and I'll be eternally grateful. That kind of character stayed with me forever, the kindness he showed to that little girl.
May he find everlasting peace, and may his memory be a blessing to his family.
Biatrichi Canzoniere
I just heard of the passing of Duke Patrick Michael. He and Julia were instrumental in me joining and staying in the SCA. They always showed me hospitality and treated me with kindness. I made Coronation clothes for them and helped in their entourage. Julia even helped me get a job when I needed one and was a sounding board when I needed one. I will miss him but I miss them both. As a peer, I try to pass that love along. We all should. RIP Pat Mike.
Jean-Paul de Sens
I will attempt to write better words later, but the short version is I miss, and will continue to miss, his Grace, Duke Patrick Michael.
His personal influence to me, and his influence on the Kingdom he loved, are not a thing that can be easily put into words.
The time and energy he invested in me and others is greatly appreciated, and will attempt to continue to pay it forward.
Avery Shaw
Duke Patrick Michael Gordonne has moved beyond the veil. He was a stubborn, obnoxious, joyous, deeply caring man. He was a pain the ass sometimes, he was amazingly giving at all times. There were times I wanted to smack him, there were times where he was everything a Knight is supposed to be. He was one of the first Crowns I actually interacted with almost 30 years ago. The world is a bit dimmer this day with his leaving.
Rest in Peace, Good Sir. May your memory be a blessing.
There are people who make you feel younger with a smile and a hug. Duke Patrick Michael was one of them. When I last saw him, at Gulf War 2019, his smile and hug took me back to my early years in the SCA.
Patrick Michael was the first King of Ansteorra that I spoke to outside of Court. I was fencing in a list in Greywood and there weren't enough heralds. So the King stepped away from his throne to herald the field I was on. He was doing well until he got to my name, Valeria Richila Navarro. My name provoked a response of "Oh my God, what is this?" Since he had already called my opponent, I rattled off my name as quickly as possible in answer to his question. He grinned at me. That big wonderful smile of his that let you know that being here was the best place to be.
I will miss my friend.
Iago Cabrera de Cadiz
In the summer of 1990, I met a large blonde man at the Stargate practice on that back corner of Memorial Park. He wanted to fence that day, not fight in armor, and asked to borrow my foil. When I handed it to him and said, "Sure, buddy, go ahead," I got a lecture from someone else about the proper way to speak to the king.
It was short lived, because the king said, "No. He's new. We don't talk to new people like that."
That was my introduction to Patrick Michael. Rest in peace, sir. You made a hell of an impression.
Countess 34th Crown|Rebekah Kleinspielerin]] adds: He played a washer woman for a rapier melee event in an early Tourney by the Loch - Early 90s, I think.
Robin of Gilwell
Patrick Michael Gordonne passed away recently.
Once when Patrick Michael was king, I had done something that really offended him. (I did it with my eyes open. I knew it would offend the King, and I felt it had to be done.) I heard later that he was fuming when it happened, and was talking about how to respond. One of his advisors said, "Well, you could remove him as Baron."
In his white-hot fury at me, he said, "I'm not going to remove him as Baron. He's a good Baron!"
This man defended me while furious at me. That is a great king.
Rest in peace.
Kasilda Kubasek
I have been so saddened by the passing of Duke Patrick Michael. He started in our living room with others who met the SCA at the Texas Renaissance Fair. Over the years , we agreed with him and argued with him, but always respected him. We have funny stories like the time Karl got to an event without his white belt and borrowed one from the then Majesty, Patrick Michael. Both of my peerages were granted to me by him and Julia which I considered a great honor.
My deepest condolences go to his family and many friends.
Miguel
My dear friend, mentor, and brother knight, Duke Pat passed away late Tuesday night. Ever since, I have been struggling to find the words that truly encompass what that means to me. I will not succeed today.
Many others have written eloquently and with heartfelt sentiment of Pat’s impact on their lives because that is the type of man he was, an impactful one. So, here I sit at my keyboard, sipping Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey (one of Pat’s favorites) out of a blue and gold goblet and trying to piece together my thoughts.
He never did anything half-ass. When he did something, by god, he did it! As you may have seen from some of the posts, not everyone always appreciated his approach. He was strong, brash, and always moving forward. He had a bit of a temper. He was also intelligent, caring, and self-reflective. I think that he was too self-reflective at times and too hard on himself, especially over the last several years.
Pat and I were not close at first, mostly because I was more of a rash pain in the ass in my early 20s than I like to think that I am now. We were both very different, our politics, our approach to things, even our fighting groups were at odds with each other for many years. But, at the core of it, we both wanted to be good knights, good kings, and good men. Eventually, we saw that in each other.
Conal and I were welcomed into his home, where we spent holidays and other special occasions. He was our royal advisor in our second reign. We learned from him to work hard for the populace for the honor and the privilege to serve them. I learned to be more decisive by watching him command. I learned to be a better host because no matter how late we stayed up gaming, he was always the first up to cook breakfast for everyone. He was generous to a fault and probably always managed to get the check at dinners out by pretending to go to the restroom, then finding the server and paying before the check even hit the table. I still use that little trick myself.
In the SCA, he was the epitome of a battle knight, king, and pelican. He was one of the most powerful Lions in the kingdom. Another good duke in Ansteorra asked me what I saw in Pat (since we were obviously so different) and I pointed out that any 5-time king that does privy duty at midnight at Gulf Wars because it gets our kingdom that many more points is a worthy man in my book. If it weren’t for Pat (and Inman) we may not even have had Gulf Wars. They were both instrumental in starting it from what I recall.
But it isn’t his great deeds or heroism on the battlefield that I recall most while sitting here and toasting his name. It is his hearty laugh so filled with mirth. It is the times when he grabbed his sons (Charlie and Chris) and some friends from Longview and came up to my house to spend the weekend of my birthdays gaming and eating sushi and pizza. It was playing D&D and other RPGs or Axis and Allies with him. It was the quiet times late at night where we sat and talked tactics and sipped peach schnapps together after everyone else had gone to bed.
He is one of the most influential men to have graced Ansteorra, but more importantly to me, he was my friend! I will miss him dearly!
