In memory of Patrick
The Patrick Falco Memorial Scholarship
“We want our son’s memory to live on, and one of the ways to do that is to help other young adults find love. Something he wanted badly, and we had been actively trying to help him achieve.”
Jeanmarie and Ken Falco
Why this scholarship exists
Patrick was 26 when he died unexpectedly. He was a cherished son, a friend to many, and a member of this community.
His parents, Jeanmarie and Ken Falco, created the Patrick Falco Memorial Scholarship in his loving memory.
The Life He Built
Patrick’s life was full. Not full in spite of his disability. Just full.
Belonging
Patrick was surrounded by people who loved him. His parents were his fiercest advocates, with his father, Ken, dedicating himself to his daily care. His friendships nourished him, and his beloved pets, Scotty and Jack Frost, were always part of the family.
Passion
Sports were a lifelong passion, especially baseball, basketball and football. He followed his teams closely and knew their history in encyclopedic detail. He wrote about athletics for Caldwell University and Big State Sports, and wrote three pieces on baseball for this community. He wrote numerous articles about many sports (baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, and volleyball). He also interviewed players and wrote short bios. He loved watching games with friends beside him, in it together through the highs and the lows.
Competition
Patrick was a serious chess player. He competed in tournaments, took lessons to get better, and volunteered with the New Jersey State Chess Federation, helping with their records and data. The game challenged him, gave him something to chase and brought more people into his life.
Some chess opponents foolishly thought his disability and adaptive on-screen board made him an easy target. He didn’t always win, but he always put up a fierce fight and loved the quiet satisfaction of surprising the players who underestimated him.
Purpose
Patrick took his academics just as seriously as his work. A model student all through high school and college, he worked hard and used his studies as his way to compete and excel. Professionally, he worked in data entry from his home office, cared deeply about doing things well, and didn’t like leaving a task unfinished. He always wanted to impress others and know that he made a difference, often asking if his work was truly helping people. Weeks before he died, he had taken on another position and even more responsibility.
Joy
On a Legends of Baseball cruise in May, Jeanmarie remembers Patrick smiling nonstop and keeping his parents out dancing almost every night. She calls it one of the happiest times of his life. He came home telling people he had been “the mayor of the ship.”
What He Wanted Next
When Patrick told his parents that he wanted a relationship, they took it as seriously as they had taken everything else he had made a goal. They had spent years arranging, driving, problem-solving and opening doors. This was not going to be the exception.
Patrick started working with our founder, Kate Inez Harrington, and joined Constellations that spring. He was active and willing to join in on virtual events like trivia, Jackbox, and group coaching discussions. He asked questions in discussions, encouraged other members in the chat threads, reposted other people’s good news while he was still waiting for his own.
He was striving every day, and celebrated other people’s wins while he waited patiently for his own.
From Kate
“What struck me was not only his resilience. Every few conversations he would say something so sincere, so hopeful and so unguarded that it took me a second to regain my footing. As a coach you hope someone will reflect honestly on themselves and on what they want. Patrick usually went a step further.
We were so hopeful about his first introduction. He had doubts. He got frustrated. He kept going anyway. He came to me because he wanted to get better at something, which is rarer than people think. He said what he wanted plainly, asked questions, and took the answers seriously even when they were not the ones he hoped for.
And he was never doing any of it alone. He was a credit to his family and to the communities that built him up.
At Patrick’s funeral I was struck by the outpouring of love around him. Patrick had far more love and connection in his life than I think he ever fully realized.
I knew Patrick for far too short a time, but his impact on me will be lasting. I am grateful to the Falco family for trusting me, and now our community, with a part of his story, and for letting the hope and sincerity I saw in him keep reaching other people.”
Founder, Constellations
With gratitude to the Falco family, who made this possible in Patrick’s memory.
If you would like this page in a different format, such as larger print, plain language or read aloud, write to hello@joinconstellations.com and we will strive to provide it.