Hollister, Ca. – Patrick was born and grew up in San Jose, Ca., the second son of James Sr. and Margory Arata. He attended St. Francis College Prep and Wm. Overfelt High Schools, graduating in 1965, also attending San Jose State University, majoring in business. He served 6 years in the Marine Corps reserves with an honorable discharge in 1971.
He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins major league baseball club and played two years class A baseball. He worked summer camp for the Pittsburgh Pirates instructional league in Las Vegas, Nevada and played semi-pro baseball for Fontanetti’s, in Santa Clara, Ca.
Pat worked in the family business, A&P liquors in San Jose, Ca. before starting his own business, Blume and Lindsay Landscape, as a landscape maintenance contractor in Santa Cruz County. He loved the outdoors and the beauty of grounds. It was said of him that he was “an artist” in the garden.
Pat married Shari Dahl on June 30, 1973 at San Jose, Ca. and moved to Aptos, Ca. and raised two children, Lindsay Blaine and Patrick J-L Arata. Patrick moved with his family to Hollister, Ca. in 1991. There he was an active member at Ridgemark Golf and CC and enjoyed many years of the game he loved so much, earning a “Player of the Year” award for 2008.
He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, James R. Arata, Jr., and David S. Arata, III.
Pat is survived by his wife of 36 years, Shari Arata of Hollister, daughter, Lindsay Arata of Hollister, son Patrick J-L Arata of Hollister, sister Annamaria Arata of Santa Cruz, and 5 nieces: Lisa Sibley (James) of Santa Cruz, Laura Wentling (Michael) of San Jose, Jennifer Arata of Morgan Hill, Elizabeth McLean (John) of Roseville, Katrina Donato of Sacramento and 11 grand nieces and nephews.
A “Celebration of Life” remembrance following the first annual member memorial golf tournament in his name will take place at Ridgemark Golf and CC on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 3pm. Donations can be made in his name to the American Heart Association.
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