Patrick McElligott

McElligott, Patrick Hugh, 86, passed away on May 10, 2015 after a short illness.
The Pre-World War II setting of rural Hamilton, Montana was an unlikely place
for Gladys Nancy McElligott and her husband Patrick to bring up a genius, but
their old German Piano Gladys used to teach Pat to play Bach and other masters
proved to be a great background when he took his talent to New York City as a
young man. There he became conversant with French, the language his mother had
instilled in him while he was honing his skills on the piano. With these
skills, Pat developed friendships with many well known people, including Judy
Garland, Tallula Bankhead and Lana Turner. He was also able to pursue his love
of Paris by annual Christmas visits to his friend Jean Claude in France. At
some point in his busy life he was one of the musicians who helped Barbara
Streisand’s early career. With his abilities he moved around the country to
perform a wide repertoire of jazz and classical music. He was playing in
Seattle when Wichitans Madge and Harold Chance met him and convinced him to
move to Wichita, where he spent the last third of his life widening our music
appreciation at many local venues, including the Wichita Club and more recently
Larkspur Restaurant, where he entertained not only Wichita residents but many
who were attracted by the airline industry, who were so amazed that his French
was as elegant as his music that return visits to the restaurant were certain
when their planes returned for servicing. A celebration of Pat’s life will be
held at Larkspur Restaurant on Wednesday, May 27 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Share
condolences at www.CozineMemorial.com.

Celebration of Life