Affectionately known by some as “Mother Earth”, she came from humble beginnings raised on a dairy farm in Sewickley, PA during the Great Depression and the Second World War only to move out west and help build the California dream after meeting her lifelong partner, Charlie Poss.
Pat touched so many lives through the construction industry providing literally tens of thousands of jobs as C.W. Poss, Inc. and other past business ventures were responsible for a number of landmark developments and high-profile projects throughout the southland including many housing tracts, golf courses, high rises, hospitals, airports, sports venues, performing arts centers, harbors, and landfills that we all still use today.
Yet, it was her second career she was most proud of and passionate about. Pat was an avid philanthropist, supporting many worthy organizations such as Opera Pacific, Segerstrom Center for Arts, Pacific Symphony, Orangewood Children’s Foundation, Arts Orange County, and City of Hope Construction Industries Alliance among others. She impacted so many lives through her philanthropic achievements and the charities she championed as she was always willing to help and always the first to volunteer for any task.
Even the SCCA has been graced with her warm generosity with her past assistance on the SCCA Program Committee as well as her many decades of involvement with the SCCA Scholarship Program. Her 3 children, Janet and her husband Dan, Robin and her husband Patrick, and Chuck and his wife Sharlene, have all followed in their mother’s footsteps by choosing careers in the construction industry and becoming established members of the Southern California Contractors Association.
Pat’s warm smile, love, and devotion to her family have left a lasting impression on all who have known her.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations can be made to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for their musical theater camp for at-risk youth, “Summer at the Center.” 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa CA 92626 or www.scfta.org
A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, between 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with the Rosary service commencing at 6:00 PM at the McAulay & Wallace Mortuary 902 N. Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, Ca. 92832.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 10:00 AM at St Juliana Falconieri Church, 1316 N Acacia Ave, Fullerton, CA 92831 with a Celebration of Pat’s Life following the funeral mass.
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