Patrick Kyle Canfield
Patrick Kyle Canfield
1946-2014
Patrick Canfield was born Oct. 20, 1946 and was raised in Santa Barbara. He graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1964 where he played varsity basketball. Pat did his undergraduate work at Stanford University and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He played basketball for Stanford until he broke his elbow skateboarding.
He studied abroad on Stanford’s Florence, Italy campus in 1966. Upon graduation from Stanford in 1968, Pat attended the University of California, Hasting School of Law in San Francisco and graduated with a Juris Doctrate in 1971. After a brief private practice in Santa Barbara he joined the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office at a Deputy District Attorney and was the resident Deputy DA in Coalinga for part of that tenure. In 1974, Pat was hired by then Inyo County District Attorney, Frank Fowles and served as a Deputy District Attorney and Deputy County Counsel under the newly elected L.H. “Buck” Gibbons.
At 35-years-old, Pat was appointed as Judge for Inyo County. Pat was well respected in Inyo County, Mono County and throughout the state. He was re-elected without opposition several times until his formal retirement at the end of 2002. Pat then continued to serve on assignment locally and through out the state on a part time basis until his full retirement in 2010.
Pat had a love of the outdoors and became acquainted with the Eastern Sierra as he grew up. He spent two of his summers as a backcountry wilderness ranger for the U.S. Forest Service during his college years.
In his younger years Pat was a skilled rugby player and participated in the Monterey National Rugby Tournament among other prestigious events. It was following one of these rugby games in Santa Barbara that he met his wife Dori.
Pat enjoy traveling, whether it was touring the U.S. after high school with a close friend in a VW Bug, or later in life traveling the world with his wife Dori, often with his Stanford friends and their wives.
Pat enjoyed community service as a member of the Rotary Club of Bishop, as an AYSO coach and referee and lately as a Trustee of the Donald M. Slager – Sunset Foundation. Pat was involved in the men’s Bible Study group of the local Methodist Church.
Most of all Pat loved being with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Dori; Taylor and Angie Canfield and their children Malava, Vivian and Eliana; Cassie and John Mason and their children, Kyle and Neila; Kelly and Jonathan Willy and their son, Benjamin; and beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM, Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at the First Methodist Church in Bishop.
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The Honorable Pat Canfield made this country a better place and the people around him better people. He was a great example of a husband, father, grandfather, judge and American. He lived life as his professional title describes. He was a very good counselor, privately and professionally. Soft spoken and calm, his thoughtful conversation was always valuable, making you wiser for being attentive. A man you wish you had talked to more and listened to more, he inspired you to think of great questions for the next time you talked with him. Not many men can be described that way.
May memory of him and his example be eternal.
Godspeed Pat, Godspeed.
I am very saddened to read this about the wonderful, warm, generous, kind, and witty Pat Canfield. He was a magnificent human being who simply adored his family- especially the amazing Dori. It was very heartwarming to witness the love he shared with all of them. They are a brilliant family and I took a shine to them immediately. They are beams of laughter, love and smiles. Amazing people.
We were neighbors for a short-while. The Canfield family were exceptionally hospitable and welcoming. The Canfield kids are so well-mannered, polite and genuine, it was hard to not be enveloped by their warmth – and humor. Their pleasant, fun, light-filled demeanor made it easy and necessary to hop over the low brick wall that divided our yards for bubbles and wine. I will always treasure the good times and laughs I shared with them- although, brief, they leave an indelible mark on my heart. Godspeed, Dear Pat Canfield. I am very blessed to have known you and your incredible family.
Thank you to the community for your support. The family asks that donations be made to the Bishop United Methodist Soup Kitchen in lieu of flowers. Pat volunteered there regularly and would appreciate the rest of us continuing to help one another out.
http://www.umsses.org/programs/soup-kitchen/
Donations in remembrance of Pat can be sent to:
Bishop United Methodist Soup Kitchen
205 North Fowler St.
Bishop CA 93514
Met Pat when Taylor and Angie got married, thru extended family Geo Milovich
Was hoping to sign guest book for memorial service. Mentioned to him that
day, Stanford was still looking for a tuba player that could tackle !