Patrick Terrence Fleeharty's Obituary
Patrick Terrence Fleeharty of Annapolis died of heart failure at Anne Arundel Medical Center on October 9, 2025. He was 78.
Pat was born in the Washing ton D.C. area on February 6, 1947. His parents were Clifford E. Fleeharty and Norma Berger Fleeharty.
He attended elementary and high school in the Potomac area and graduated from Western Maryland (now McDaniel) College in 1969 with a double major in psychology and sociology. After his service in the army, Pat earned his master’s degree in social work at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Community Planning in Baltimore.
While at Western Maryland, he met his future wife, Elise (Lisa) Renshaw. They became friends while on a field team providing a summer recreation program to children and teens in Ensenada, Puerto Rico. They fell in love, and married in 1969, the day before they both graduated.
Pat and Lisa were temporary foster parents for four children awaiting adoption or permanent care, during which time they also gave birth to their two sons, Sean and David.
Over the years, Pat worked in various areas of social work practice and for a while worked as a carpenter. Interested in education, he taught school briefly, but after having to read “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv, he became passionate about the importance of nature in children’s lives and was delighted to be employed at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center and thought it was the best job he ever had.
Pat was active for years at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, singing tenor first in the choir, and later with the worship ensemble. He volunteered as well with Habitat for Humanity, Annapolis Immigration Justice Network (AIJN), Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT), the NAACP, and was a watershed steward. He also delivered food for people being helped by St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Eastport, and packed and delivered food boxes for Food Friday, sponsored by OEM (the Office of Emergency Management).
Pat was predeceased by his brother Mark, and survived by his wife Lisa, his sons Sean (Sara) and Dave (KiKi), four grandchildren; Avery (Bella), Megan (Connor), Emma, and Halle, as well as two of his former foster children; Claudeidra and Latoya.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis on Saturday, November 22 at 10:00 a.m. To join the service via Zoom please visit https://bit.ly/PatFleehartyCelebrationofLife
Meeting ID: 998 3031 7429
Passcode: 091404
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy, 975 Indian Landing Road, Millersville, MD 21108
What’s your fondest memory of Patrick?
What’s a lesson you learned from Patrick?
Share a story where Patrick's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Patrick you’ll never forget.
How did Patrick make you smile?