Lasting Memories

Patrick Grover Corcoran
Nov. 13, 1925-Oct. 27, 2015
Menlo Park, California

Patrick Grover Corcoran (November 13, 1925 - October 27, 2015) passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 27, 2015, with his daughter by his side.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, his family was always his main focus in anything he accomplished.

Pat loved his hometown of San Francisco, where he was a business owner and resident until 1967 when he relocated his business to Redwood City and his home to Menlo Park.

He joined the Army in 1943 at the age of 17 as the youngest soldier in his battalion. He proudly served his country in World War II with the 280th combat engineers, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge, The Rhineland Campaign and The Central Europe Campaign.

He was one of three men who was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery for crossing the Ruhr River (the mouth of the Rhine River) in Germany while under fire.

He met Bernice Theresa Clarke of Menlo Park in Santa Cruz and they were married on November 28, 1954. They had four children, whom they raised in South San Francisco and Menlo Park, respectfully. Pat bought the Clarke's family home in Menlo Park in 1967, where he remained until his passing.

He was a well-liked pillar of his community, a member of the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce and owner of P.G. Corcoran Company, which was the only West Coast distributor of supermarket equipment. He was involved with many supermarket inventions. He held a U.S. patent on the first grocery store wine rack and was instrumental in bringing grocery hand baskets to the United States. After retiring from the supermarket business in 1992, he began PGC Enterprises, dealing in commercial real estate holdings and which is still ongoing today under family management.

He loved to visit his vacation home located in the Gold Country (Columbia, California) and spent every summer vacationing in Twain Harte, California, at the family cabins. He particularly loved swimming at Twain Harte Lake.

He was active and forging on, running these businesses, traveling, attending with love to family and friends until his passing. His independent, adventurous and lively spirit touched everyone and left an indelible mark on those closest to him.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Marcie Corcoran. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Bernice Corcoran of Menlo Park; his daughter, Carole Corcoran-Williams (Pat Williams) of La Honda; his son, Patrick (Sascha Corcoran) of San Jose; his daughter, Diane Serrano of Soulsbyville; his best friend, Steve Ellerman (Alice Ellerman) of Sacramento, 10 loving grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to attend visitation on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Funeral Service on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. -- all at Redwood Chapel, 87 Woodside Road, Redwood City, CA 94061. Graveside service will follow at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, California.