Patrick Joseph Laughlin

On Saturday December 17, 2022 the world lost a great man, Patrick Laughlin, 50, of Middlefield, MA after having waged a brave but horrific battle with Stage 4 Head and Neck Cancer for over a year.

Born in Norwalk, CT on March 21, 1972, Patrick spent his earliest years living in parts of Africa and Saudi Arabia as his family traveled for his father’s occupation with the Army Corps of Engineers. But then sadly while living in Houston, TX at the tender age of 9, Patrick lost his father to a sudden heart attack after which his newly widowed mother moved them to Lee, MA.

Over the next four decades of living there before finally moving to his dream property in Middlefield in 2018, Patrick became an integral part of the Berkshire County community.

He graduated from Lee High School in 1990, then continued his education with classes taken at both BCC and Hudson Valley Community College before embarking on a career in construction working as a heavy equipment operator on the environmental cleanup projects of the Housatonic River after the GE contaminations. This then led to him being employed for the last 15 years as a civil engineer for MassDOT, following in his father’s footsteps as he inspected and/or built many of the roads and bridges that are traveled daily in Berkshire, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties.

Patrick also enjoyed varied personal hobbies including motorcycles, ATVs and classic cars/trucks, billiards, guns and knives, camping and survivalist skills, concerts and other live music events, and above all else eating GOOD FOOD, which earned him great affection, respect, and membership in many different clubs and sub-communities. But no part of his identity was more important to him or made him prouder than that of father to his cherished son Bryan Christopher Michael Laughlin. For nearly two decades, every thought in his head was how to care for, teach, appreciate, respect, inspire and impress his beloved boy.

Now tragically, he leaves behind his son Bryan, his long-time fiancé Kimberly Favre who ‘stood by his side for the rest of his life’ as pledged to him at his brother’s funeral in 2014, and their three adored/adoring pups Ben, Storm, and Remy. Patrick also leaves his nieces and cousins, along with so many who consider him as a surrogate ‘brother’, and even more who viewed him as the very best of friends.

He was a role model to many people, always the first to offer help when needed, a shoulder for someone to lean/cry on, a hand to hold, or arms to defend and protect, and he will be missed by so many. Patrick was unfortunately predeceased by both his father, John and mother, Rosemary, as well as his brothers John ‘Jack’ Laughlin and Thomas John Laughlin, both of whom also suffered from forms of cancer as did several of his aunts and uncles.

During the last year of his life, while tackling his extremely aggressive cancer with nothing but incredible strength, grace, humor, and love, Patrick gave rise to the #LaughlinStrong Head and Neck Cancer Awareness campaign which his family and friends very much hope to continue in order to help others who are struggling with the same terrible journey that Patrick suffered. Therefore in lieu of flowers, we humbly ask for donations to be made to Head and Neck Cancer awareness, research, support, or education charity in his name.

Calling Hours for Patrick will be held this Thursday, December 29, 2022 at the Kelly Funeral Home in Lee, MA from 4-6pm, concluding with a memorial service at 6pm.

If you would like to leave a message of condolence or share pictures or stories please visit our website at www.kellyfuneralhome.net