Patrick Hobart Hare

CORNWALL — Patrick Hobart Hare died peacefully April 11, 2019, after a long series of illnesses. He was surrounded by family at the time of his passing.

Pat was born on Long Island, N.Y., on Nov 22, 1941. His parents, Montgomery Hare and Mary Sturgess Hare, moved the family to Cornwall when Pat was an infant.

He attended Cornwall Consolidated School, Rumsey Hall School, Groton, Dartmouth,the Southern Illinois University (SIU), where he received a degree in design, and the University of Edinburgh, where he earned his Master’s Degree in Urban Planning.

Pat was first married to Gail Bixby. His second marriage, to Joann Bario, produced Anna Bario and his grandson, Levon Helm Panella. His third marriage, of 35 years, to Margaret Haske produced Helen Constance Hare, Daniel Patrick Hare  and John Montgomery Hare.

Pat was a kind, gentle man of great intellectual vigor. He was a voracious reader, often reading three or more nonfiction books at a time, which he would  read and reread until he had completely absorbed the content. He could, and often did, refer to books he had read decades earlier, and remember the author and the full content.

Pat had a well developed sense of artistic whimsy. Lucky friends may have received a collage made of sand grass, seashells, photos and bits of flipflops. His gift wrapping, Halloween costumes and cake creations were marvelous.

Pat’s career spanned many decades. He taught at the Design Department at SIU, headed by Buckminster Fuller, for two years and then moved into civil  rights, focused largely on housing discrimination in Hartford. His Washington, D.C., firm, Patrick H. Hare Planning and Design, focused on affordable housing and environmental issues. Of his many publications, his book “Creating an Accessory Apartmet” demonstrated his lifelong commitment to developing methods for using existing housing in innovative ways to the benefit of individuals, communities and the environment.

His work on bike trails combined his love of exercise, the outdoors, and protecting the environment. 

He conceived and developed the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, and contributed extensively to the HouBike Trail, which runs along the Housatonic River and is part of a bicycle pathway that connects cities on the East Coast.

Pat served as a volunteer on the Cornwall Planning and Zoning Commission and was chair of that Commission for many years. He also served as a volunteer  ski patrolman at Mohawk Mountain for many years. He was in the Peace Corps for two terms, serving in Honduras.

Pat leaves many loved ones. In addition to those already mentioned, he leaves his brother, Rob Hare; his sisters, Maddie Burke and Connie Hare; and brothers-in-law Roger Burke, Joe Haske and John Haske; sisters-in-law Iza Trapani, Irene Haske and Jeanne Haske; son-in-law Marco Panella; stepson David Bario; and nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends.

A memorial service will be held in late summer 2019.