Pat Wallace photo courtesy of Jon Lewis
Patrick “Pat” Earl Wallace, whose life was sadly cut short on Feb. 3, 2015, due to complications from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, will be remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, faithful friend, dedicated attorney, a San Francisco Giants fan and the type of guy whose company people wanted to keep.
Pat was born April 20, 1952, in the small Lassen County community of Westwood, where a lifelong love of hunting and fishing was kindled and circumstances forced him to become self-sufficient at an early age.
In Redding, he graduated Shasta High School in 1970 and worked at a number of different jobs before beginning his first career as a jeweler in 1972. He went to work for Royal Jewelers on Athens Avenue, a job he would keep off and on for the following 13 years. He continued a close relationship with owners Royal and Dolores Harvey after their retirement in 1985; they fondly recall Pat as a dear and intelligent friend who was fun to do things with.
Pat was introduced to Patte Jelavich at a wedding reception in the late 1970s and they met again in a chance encounter a few months later; they married in March of 1978. Their son, Corey, was born in 1982 and Pat had a new focus in his life.
“He was absolutely devoted to Corey,” recalled family friend and colleague Michael White. “He was deeply involved with everything and anything to do with Corey.” That bond was evident when Pat—now a husband and a father—decided to continue his education and switch careers.
“One of the things that most impressed me about Pat, and for which I was so proud of him, was the fact that even though he was older, and most of his peers had already gone to college and started careers, he said, ‘you know what? I think I can do this. I can graduate from university and go to law school,’” White said.
Pat took classes at Shasta College for two years before transferring to the University of California at Davis to complete his undergraduate degree. He was then accepted to the UC Davis School of Law.
During his final year of law school, Pat’s application for a clerkship with the Alaska Supreme Court was accepted so he brought Corey, who was then a first-grader, north to Anchorage for a semester.
“It was from January to May. When we got there it was dark all the time, and we didn’t have a car, so Dad would walk me to school,” recalled Corey, who now works as a school teacher in Oakland. “We had a little apartment there and we ate a lot of macaroni and cheese.”
“I always admired him for doing that,” White said. “He didn’t say ‘it’s too late in life.’ And Patte’s support was just incredible.”
Pat was admitted to the State Bar of California 1991 and after gaining some experience at a firm in Sacramento, he returned home to Redding to begin his career in worker’s compensation law with the firm of Hanna Brophy.
White, who retired from Hanna Brophy and now serves the firm as a consultant, met Pat in 1980. “Pat and I were something of an odd couple when we first met. I grew up in Los Angeles and was coming to Redding from Santa Barbara. Pat was born and raised in Westwood, and his idea of recreation was to grab a rifle and go out and shoot wild animals,” said White, who added that for years, Pat tried (unsuccessfully) to get him to develop an appreciation for wild game.
Joe Montgomery, a partner at Hanna Brophy, recalled Pat “as a friend, the kind of person who was always reaching out to help his friends.” When their children were younger, the Wallace and Montgomery families made trips to the Trinity Alps each summer, where Pat created more lasting friendships.
“Pat had a way of making friends. People always reached out to him,” Montgomery said.
No friendship was as strong as the one between Pat and his son. “He gave me everything. He was so good to me,” Corey said. “After I was born, he went back to school so he could make more money. He had a rough life—he was taking care of himself when he was 14. He went back and got his law degree so I wouldn’t have the hardships he had.
“I’m going to miss calling and talking (stuff) about the Giants and Dodgers and talking about fantasy football … he really was my best friend.”
An avid golfer, Pat will be missed on the links at River Tasalmi, where he was a regular participant in Saturday afternoon rounds with his many friends. His absence also will be felt this summer at the annual “Redneck Open” campout and tournament on the McCloud River, where his acerbic wit and generous nature added plenty to that rambunctious gathering.
Pat is survived by his wife, Patte Jelavich; his son, Corey Wallace; and a sister, Virginia Miller of Red Bluff.
A celebration of life is tentatively planned for early spring.
He will be deeply missed.
In lieu of flowers, Pat’s family has asked that donations be made to Shasta College in his name.
Jon Lewis is a freelance writer living in Redding. He has more than 30 years experience writing for newspapers and magazines. Contact him at jonpaullewis@gmail.com.
