Individual Details
Patrick Richard FURR
(December 25, 1974 - November 15, 2003)
Arlington coach remembered as noble friend
Heart ailment takes Furr, 28
By Sean T. McMann
Poughkeepsie Journal
Perhaps Patrick Furr knew his time on Earth would be limited. Maybe he didn't. But he certainly coached that way, making every session with his rowers count -- never taking one morning on the water nor one stroke of the oar for granted. Packing a lifetime of memories and friendships into just 28 years, Furr, the freshman and novice crew coach at Arlington High School, passed away from a heart ailment last weekend. Arlington's rowing community will host a rememberance of Furr's life today at 1 p.m. at the boathouse at Marist College. ''It was a shock to everyone who knew him,'' said Jake Shaffren, a junior at Arlington. ''I was almost in disbelief. It was just like, 'Wow!' He was so young and lively.'' So lively, in fact, that Furr and Shaffren spent a late-summer day celebrating Andrew Tooker's pending trip away to college. The trio ate lunch at Applebee's on Route 9, a block from away from the Hudson River where Furr made so many friends, including the two who ate with him at the table that day. Tooker, too, rowed for Furr at Arlington. ''We were all pretty tight,'' Tooker said from SUNY Oneonta, where he is a freshman. ''He was just a great guy from the first time I met him.'' It was a little after 5 in the morning, just as the sun peeked over the Hudson's horizon, when Tooker first saw him -- the young man who would change his life forever.
Had impact on rowers
Attending his first ''Learn to Row'' session, a program designed to get junior-high students turned on to rowing, Tooker met Furr. Furr was the coach that would eventually get Tooker, weeks away from the eighth grade, turned on to rowing ... and on to life. ''I was an anti-social person until I met him,'' Tooker said. ''I wouldn't be the person I am today without his influence.'' Through their shared passion of ''hard rock'' music, the two struck up a friendship -- a mentorship, a brotherly bond -- that carried through Tooker's years at Arlington. Arlington isn't just where Furr coached for four seasons. It's where he left a piece of his heart with every student-athlete he met. And he gave from that heart until the very end. ''He was always seeing the fun in things,'' Tooker said. ''He was trying to show us his love for rowing, the love that he wished we all could have.'' Shaffren and Tooker said they knew of Furr's heart condition, but they never thought it would take their friend so soon. ''I would have to say he was pretty open about it,'' Tooker said. ''He kept an imitation pacemaker on his keychain.'' Tooker said Furr was in the hospital ''about two months ago,'' but came back none the worse for wear. ''He was just a really good person,'' Tooker said. ''I don't think I've ever seen the guy actually mad.'' ''It'll be an open forum,'' said Pat Schaaf, spokesperson for the Arlington crew team. ''We wanted to give the rowers a chance to say, 'Goodbye.' '' Earlier this week, Furr's rowers -- both current and former -- couldn't say enough of the young man who taught them about rowing and, more importantly, about life. ''As a coach, he was always willing to teach. He'd always be there, supportive,'' Shaffren said. Furr taught Shaffren, a coxswain, the sport's finer points; but the coach also taught the sport's proper place in life. ''He was concerned with coaching, but also being a friend as well. ''I think that's definitely a rarity in coaches and teachers. You see it once in a while. A lot of coaches don't have that. They're just concerned about the sport.'' Adam Benvie, now a sophomore at DePaul University, tried to encapsulate Furr's legacy on the rowing communities at Arlington and the mid-Hudson Valley. ''Coach Furr was an irreplaceable addition to our program,'' Benvie said. ''Even though I only had the opportunity to row under his direction for a few short seasons, I believe that the Hudson Valley rowing community has lost a great person, an outstanding coach and mentor.'' Brendan Schaaf said he took the life lessons Furr taught him to Union College, where the 2002 Arlington graduate is now a sophomore. ''I will never forget the dedication, care and love that he embodied,'' Schaaf said. ''Although Pat's life was cut short, my relationship with this amazing man has left an undying impression on my life. I can say with confidence that he has had the same effect on all of the lives he has touched.'' Sue Benfield, Arlington's head coach, first met Furr when he rowed with the Hudson River Rowing Association, with which he remained active. She said aside from helping rowers win races and reach personal goals on the water, Furr will be remembered for the relationships he fostered off it. ''Competitive sports isn't just about competition,'' Benfield said. ''It's about fun and building a second family, a family in your sports world. ''That's what Patrick left behind.''
Donations
The Hudson River Rowers Association has established a memorial fund in Patrick Furr's name. All donations to the fund will be used for rowing equipment that will continue to honor Furr's memory. Furr's family has requested that donations be made to the fund in lieu of flowers. Donations can be made to: HRRA -- Patrick Furr Memorial Fund P.O. Box 506
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12602
Heart ailment takes Furr, 28
By Sean T. McMann
Poughkeepsie Journal
Perhaps Patrick Furr knew his time on Earth would be limited. Maybe he didn't. But he certainly coached that way, making every session with his rowers count -- never taking one morning on the water nor one stroke of the oar for granted. Packing a lifetime of memories and friendships into just 28 years, Furr, the freshman and novice crew coach at Arlington High School, passed away from a heart ailment last weekend. Arlington's rowing community will host a rememberance of Furr's life today at 1 p.m. at the boathouse at Marist College. ''It was a shock to everyone who knew him,'' said Jake Shaffren, a junior at Arlington. ''I was almost in disbelief. It was just like, 'Wow!' He was so young and lively.'' So lively, in fact, that Furr and Shaffren spent a late-summer day celebrating Andrew Tooker's pending trip away to college. The trio ate lunch at Applebee's on Route 9, a block from away from the Hudson River where Furr made so many friends, including the two who ate with him at the table that day. Tooker, too, rowed for Furr at Arlington. ''We were all pretty tight,'' Tooker said from SUNY Oneonta, where he is a freshman. ''He was just a great guy from the first time I met him.'' It was a little after 5 in the morning, just as the sun peeked over the Hudson's horizon, when Tooker first saw him -- the young man who would change his life forever.
Had impact on rowers
Attending his first ''Learn to Row'' session, a program designed to get junior-high students turned on to rowing, Tooker met Furr. Furr was the coach that would eventually get Tooker, weeks away from the eighth grade, turned on to rowing ... and on to life. ''I was an anti-social person until I met him,'' Tooker said. ''I wouldn't be the person I am today without his influence.'' Through their shared passion of ''hard rock'' music, the two struck up a friendship -- a mentorship, a brotherly bond -- that carried through Tooker's years at Arlington. Arlington isn't just where Furr coached for four seasons. It's where he left a piece of his heart with every student-athlete he met. And he gave from that heart until the very end. ''He was always seeing the fun in things,'' Tooker said. ''He was trying to show us his love for rowing, the love that he wished we all could have.'' Shaffren and Tooker said they knew of Furr's heart condition, but they never thought it would take their friend so soon. ''I would have to say he was pretty open about it,'' Tooker said. ''He kept an imitation pacemaker on his keychain.'' Tooker said Furr was in the hospital ''about two months ago,'' but came back none the worse for wear. ''He was just a really good person,'' Tooker said. ''I don't think I've ever seen the guy actually mad.'' ''It'll be an open forum,'' said Pat Schaaf, spokesperson for the Arlington crew team. ''We wanted to give the rowers a chance to say, 'Goodbye.' '' Earlier this week, Furr's rowers -- both current and former -- couldn't say enough of the young man who taught them about rowing and, more importantly, about life. ''As a coach, he was always willing to teach. He'd always be there, supportive,'' Shaffren said. Furr taught Shaffren, a coxswain, the sport's finer points; but the coach also taught the sport's proper place in life. ''He was concerned with coaching, but also being a friend as well. ''I think that's definitely a rarity in coaches and teachers. You see it once in a while. A lot of coaches don't have that. They're just concerned about the sport.'' Adam Benvie, now a sophomore at DePaul University, tried to encapsulate Furr's legacy on the rowing communities at Arlington and the mid-Hudson Valley. ''Coach Furr was an irreplaceable addition to our program,'' Benvie said. ''Even though I only had the opportunity to row under his direction for a few short seasons, I believe that the Hudson Valley rowing community has lost a great person, an outstanding coach and mentor.'' Brendan Schaaf said he took the life lessons Furr taught him to Union College, where the 2002 Arlington graduate is now a sophomore. ''I will never forget the dedication, care and love that he embodied,'' Schaaf said. ''Although Pat's life was cut short, my relationship with this amazing man has left an undying impression on my life. I can say with confidence that he has had the same effect on all of the lives he has touched.'' Sue Benfield, Arlington's head coach, first met Furr when he rowed with the Hudson River Rowing Association, with which he remained active. She said aside from helping rowers win races and reach personal goals on the water, Furr will be remembered for the relationships he fostered off it. ''Competitive sports isn't just about competition,'' Benfield said. ''It's about fun and building a second family, a family in your sports world. ''That's what Patrick left behind.''
Donations
The Hudson River Rowers Association has established a memorial fund in Patrick Furr's name. All donations to the fund will be used for rowing equipment that will continue to honor Furr's memory. Furr's family has requested that donations be made to the fund in lieu of flowers. Donations can be made to: HRRA -- Patrick Furr Memorial Fund P.O. Box 506
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12602
Events
| Birth | December 25, 1974 | Berlin, Germany | |||
| Death | November 15, 2003 |  | |||
| Soc Sec No | 230-37-6626 | |  | ||
| Burial | Peachman Village Cemetery, Peacham, Caledonia County, VT | |
Families
| Father | Living |
| Mother | Carol Jean PALAZZO (1946 - 2010) |
| Sibling | Robert Charles "Bob" FURR (1968 - 1996) |
Notes
Death
We are deeply saddened at the passing of our dear friend, Patrick, this past weekend. He was a well loved coach, colleague and teammate to so many of us and we will miss him terribly. Please join Patrick’s family and friends for a Celebration of Patrick’s life on Saturday, November 22 from noon to five at the Roger’s Point Marina. Bring your memories and photographs to share as we gather to remember his wonderful spirit and say goodbye to our friend. At his Family’s request, HRRA has created a memorial fund in Patrick’s name. All donations to this fund will be used for rowing equipment that will continue to honor his memory every time a shell enters the water. His family has requested that donations should be made to this fund in lieu of flowers. Donations can made to: HRRA - Patrick Furr Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 506, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602.LAGRANGE-The Arlington High School athletic community is still in shock over the loss of freshman and novice crew coach Patrick Furr, 28, who died on Nov. 15 due to a heart condition. Furr was remembered during a memorial service on Nov. 23 at the Marist College boathouse, where he spent much of his time coaching four seasons with Arlington. Many who knew Furr were caught off guard by the news of his death and are still trying to come to terms with it. Arlington High School Athletic Director Dave Goddard remembers Furr as being very dedicated to the students. "I only met Patrick a few times, but everyone has so many wonderful things to say about him, I wish I knew him better," he said. "He seemed like a great young man." "He was a fine man who truly had a love for his sport," said Arlington High School Principal Thomas Brooks. "He was very passionate about crew and rowing. Patrick was a giving individual and will be missed a great deal by the Arlington community." Born in Germany, Furr attended high school in Virginia before moving to Poughkeepsie to attend Dutchess Community College. He then attended SUNY Stony Brook in Long Island where he first participated in crew. After college he moved back to Dutchess County and became involved with the Hudson River Rowing Association where he taught novice rowers. Furr had an associate's degree in prosthetic technology and worked at the Mid Hudson Orthopedic System as a prosthetic technician. This spring he was to become the coach of the Our Lady of Lourdes High School crew team.
Soc Sec No
State (Year) SSN issued: Virginia (1986)Endnotes
1. United States Social Security Death Index.
2. findagrave.com.