Obituary of Patrick Michael Grattan

A bright light has dimmed on earth and now shines among the stars. Patrick Michael Grattan was born on October 8, 1954 and passed away on March 27, 2024 with his loved ones by his side. Between those two dates lay an exquisitely lived life. Pat was born to Thomas Grattan and Constance (Harmer) Grattan in Caerphilly, Wales (both deceased) and spent his early years in Wales, England, Ireland, Canada, and Kinderhook before establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in Valatie, New York. He served his community for over 30 years as Mayor of Valatie, Supervisor of the Town of Kinderhook, and Chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. Over the past 14 years, he was Associate Court Attorney at the Greene County Supreme and County Court in Catskill. Throughout his career, he set highly ambitious, sometimes seemingly impossible, goals to make life better for his fellow citizens, and achieved them through a mix of knowledge, empathy, and charm. Pat was a strong proponent of education. He attended Hudson Valley Community College, received his B.A. from Siena College, M.A. in Literature from the College of St. Rose, and his J.D. Degree from Albany Law School. A true Renaissance man, he was known not just for his leadership and legal mind, but also as a skilled plumber and carpenter – as comfortable with a wrench in his hand as a gavel. He was always willing to ply any of his trades on behalf of his vast array of friends from all walks of life. If he was your friend, he was your steadfast and loyal friend forever. Pat was most proud of his family. He was a devoted husband to Liz and a dedicated father to his daughter Emily. As busy as he was, he was most happy to be back in his longtime home enjoying a delicious meal and working on an endless list of home improvements. He loved working on the house, chopping wood, and mowing the lawn. No matter what he was doing, he was always thinking. A voracious reader and witty raconteur, he could converse on any topic and be counted on for strong commentary on the state of the world, always delivered with a mischievous grin. Oh, the stories he could tell. Pat is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 40 years Liz (Mink) Grattan, his devoted daughter Emily Grattan, and son-in-law Ben Groder, as well as his sisters Mary Grattan Gielen (Frank) and Eileen Grattan, his brother Kevin Grattan (Denise, deceased) and eight nieces and nephews in Columbia County and Canada. To honor Pat's remarkable life, there will be a viewing from 11-12:30 PM followed by his funeral at 12:30 PM on Saturday, March 30, at the Ghent Reformed Church, 1039 County Rte. 22 in Ghent. Burial will be in the West Ghent Cemetery followed by a reception in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, you are invited to remember Pat with a contribution to the Valatie Rescue Squad or the Columbia-Greene Humane Society if you are so inclined. Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Valatie, NY. Visit raymondbondfh.com.