It is with great sadness that I must share the news that our dear friend and classmate, Patrick Ward, passed away unexpectedly on December 30, 2016. Our deepest condolences go out to Pat's family and friends for this sad and irreplaceable loss.  

Attorney Patrick J. Ward, 60, of Feeding Hills, passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday December 30, 2016. Born in Holyoke to William J. and Mary (Durkin) Ward, Patrick was a 1974 graduate of East Longmeadow High School and received his Bachelors from Bridgewater State. He served on the Law Review at New England School of Law in Boston and earned his Juris Doctorate in 1982. Patrick quickly went to work in the Greater Springfield area, earning a reputation as a skilled defense attorney and zealous advocate for his clients. Most of all, Patrick loved his family. A large part of his life was coaching his children’s sports teams and supporting them throughout their education. He enjoyed watching Patriots and Red Sox games with his family, as well as summer vacations on Cape Cod. Time spent with friends was usually on the golf course, a passion Patrick inherited from his father. He also loved reading, politics, history, music, and playing the drums, especially in his high school band “The Essex.” Patrick is survived by his daughter, Caitlin E. (Ward) Becker and her husband Steven of Hadley, his son William J. Ward of East Longmeadow, and their mother, Lee (Marino) Ward of Springfield; his sister, Catherine D. Yurkunas and her husband Vince of East Longmeadow; his brother, John D. Ward and his wife Wendy of Vernon, CT; his aunt, N. Marie Martin of Holyoke; his niece, Elizabeth Ward; nephews, David Ward and James and Joseph Mello; many cousins and N.G.B. buddies from St. Anne’s Country Club. Visitation hours are from 4 – 8 pm on Thursday January 5th at the Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main St. East Longmeadow. On Friday January 6th friends and family may meet at Forastiere at 8:45 am or proceed directly to Holy Name Parish, 323 Dickinson St, for the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 am. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Springfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Patrick’s memory to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104-2396.