Patrick Doyle
December 19,1930 - March 12, 2024
Patrick began his long musical career while his father was stationed in the Customs' office in Vancouver, B.C. during World War II. He had two piano lessons each week, one in repertoire and the other in theory and harmony under the Royal Toronto Conservatory program. Patrick was chosen the outstanding ninth grade student at Kitsalano High School in Vancouver B.C. in 1947. He attended Western Washington College, majoring in music and participating in their choir and band activities. After two years, he transferred to the University of Washington where he graduated with a BA in Piano and a BA in music education. While there, he met Shirley when they both attended the square dance club. After a short stint in the Army, he and Shirley were married in 1956.
He then began his 38 years as a music teacher in the Seattle Public School system. Being interested in group piano instruction, in 1967 he took a sabbatical and went to New York with his family to work with Dr. Robert Pace at Columbia University. At Columbia Patrick earned a MA in piano pedagogy. After returning to teaching in Seattle, he led the way in providing and promoting class piano instruction there. Over the years he touched the lives of many students and was especially interested and devoted to working with students from other countries who had fled to the Seattle area when their home countries were wracked with war. Patrick ended his career as the head of the music department at Ballard High School, teaching class piano, choir and band.
After retirement, he became more involved with music at the First Congregational Church, Bellevue. He sang in the vocal choir and became the director of the hand bell choir which he continued for 22 years. He expanded the bell choir program and increased the number of bells to a five octave range, and developed a chime choir for children. He was a generous and kind man and a beloved teacher to students and musicians of all ages.
Patrick is survived by his survived by his "lynch-pin", Shirley, his wife of 67 years; children, Kathleen and Kevin (Lourdes); grandchildren Leilani and Malaki; and brother, Michael (Betty).
A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, June 1st at 2:00 at the First Congregational Church of Bellevue, 11061 N.E. 2nd Street, Bellevue WA 98004.
The service will be available as a livestream on the church Youtube site https://www.youtube.com/@fccbellevuewa , and will start about 10 minutes before the service.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Patrick Doyle Memorial Fund for the hand bell fund at that church.
