Tribute

Patricia Tynan 1942-2003

Patricia Tynan’s character and personality were her best gifts. Patricia was born with dyslexia, but before people really knew what that was. So you can imagine, her school life therefore wasn’t much fun, because she could think really quickly and creatively, but couldn’t put it down on paper. It was this experience that formed a great inspiration to her daughter Bernadette Tynan, and was a motivating force behind the charity itself. Today we know there are different kinds of clever and that more research needs to be done to ensure every child has a fair chance. Being a positive person, and having a great sense of humour at all times, it was typical of Patricia that she dispelled her difficulties with undiagnosed dyslexia and focused, from a very young age on what she could do. Patricia didn’t have any degrees, she had something else that she termed a doctorate in the ‘University of Life’. She was an extremely wise and practical person. Patricia was the eldest of six and found out she was very good at looking after all of them. Later, she went into nursing and nursery nursing because she found she had a brilliant ability with children, caring for old people, and something else much appreciated by friends and family - cookery! Patricia loved sports activities too. She studied Karate and earned her status as Sensei – teacher. Patricia also enjoyed hiking and climbing, a passion in later life. And above all else she loved to be up on the hills walking with her family and friends. Typical of her unselfish and generous character she even managed to turn her funeral into a huge success for the charity :). Her will stated that she wanted only a simple spray of flowers, and for all the money people would spend on flowers to be donated instead to the charity Beautiful Minds. This was a stroke of genius that helped the charity so much, people came from far and wide and were very generous, so thank you again Patricia and everyone who donated to the charity.

It goes without saying that Bernadette Tynan, the vocation she chose and the purpose of Beautiful Minds are all greatly inspired by her mother’s example, life and experience. Bernadette Tynan and Chris Tynan on behalf of the charity Beautiful Minds would like to say a big thank you to all the fabulous people who support the charity, knew Patricia and wish us well. Thank you, and the ‘can do’ spirit of Patricia drives us on, here is to our next event and making it a great success!