I didn’t know where to begin. How do you speak of someone you love who has crossed over into the next realm? How do you honor a life that touched you so deeply, even if your time together was far too quick?
After forty days it still feels fresh even if the state, country, and the world have seemed to move on. There is this huge hole left in the city that will not be so easily healed for many not only lost their homes but family members as well. We lost Ms. Pat to the Eaton fire that destroyed not only her home but 9,413 homes, businesses, and tons of special buildings across Altadena and Pasadena.
I loved Ms. Pat from the very first moment our paths crossed. She was a tall, bold force of nature—unapologetically honest and refreshingly direct, even when the truth stung. Witty, clever, and laced with delicious sarcasm, she possessed a refined taste in everything from art to life itself. Ms. Pat was fiercely original; she lived by her own thoughts, beliefs, and ideals, never swayed by the crowd.
I was just a young girl navigating my second or third year in L.A. when I first met her in the LACC costume shop, a sacred space where dreams and chaos mingled under the watchful eye of theatre legend Naila Aladdin-Sanders. There, amidst costumes and endless creative energy, Ms. Pat wasn’t just a teacher—she was a mentor, a friend, a guiding light. In that vibrant, often wild space, she wore many hats: mother, auntie, and steward of time. With a heart full of compassion, she fed us when our bodies needed it—she nourished our souls. Whether it was slipping a little cash into our hands, offering a ride, or simply sharing her wisdom, every act was delivered with precision, intention, and unconditional love.
Our conversations were endless and free, spanning theatre, art, fashion, her husband Tom, history, and the power of books. In a new city where meaningful connection can be rare, I found in Ms. Pat a kindred spirit—someone who made intellectual exploration feel like a grand adventure. I absorbed every word, and every idea, knowing I was in the presence of a woman who truly understood the beauty of learning and living boldly. When she spoke you listened.
There were times in theatre school when life threatened to break me—when eviction loomed, my belongings became a makeshift set on the school’s main stage, and homelessness felt inevitable. In those moments, Ms. Pat was my sanctuary. She took me under her wing: first finding me an apartment, then furnishing it with the warmth and coziness of home. When a roommate’s behavior turned dangerous in the dead of night, I called her, and without hesitation, she scooped me up, brought me safely to her home, and gave me refuge. For over a year, I lived with Ms. Pat in Altadena, sharing in both our struggles and our triumphs. Through every hardship, she was a constant beacon of unconditional love, fueling my courage and nurturing my passion for the arts.
Ms. Pat was the light in our darkest times—a fearless advocate for every artist caught between dreams and the unknown. I wish with every fiber of my being, that I could have saved her, just as she saved me so many times over. I hope she knows how deeply she was loved, how fiercely she was respected, and how her legacy will forever guide our hearts and minds. The memories of our time together are etched in my bones, inspiring me to be as audacious, as bold, and as unyielding in my truth as she was.
In remembering Ms. Patricia Diann McKenna, I honor not just a teacher, but an indomitable spirit—a woman who lived, loved, and dared to be unapologetically herself. Ms. Pat was here.
