Pat was born on September 21, 1953, in New York, NY, to the late Donald and Patricia (Scanlon) Durkin.

Pat is survived by his fiancée, Sue Crawford; brother and sister-in-law, Shane and Valerie Durkin; sister, Shivaun Robinson; and children Kelly Durkin and Patrick Durkin, Jr. He will be missed by his nephews and nieces: Jake Robinson (Meegan), Lindsey Pippin (Jordan), Owen Robinson, Tessa Durkin Villavicencio (Zach), and Julianne Volatile (Cliff).

Pat attended Catholic University Campus School, Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, DC; and Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, MD. Pat graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Political Science.

Pat had a distinguished career in Federal law enforcement, including as a Senior Special Agent with U.S. Customs Service Financial Investigations and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Criminal Investigations.

After his successful career, Pat retired to an active life of golfing, volunteering for political campaigns, long walks exploring the wilderness with Blondie, travelling with Sue, attending local sporting events, rocking out at music concerts, going on beach trips, and spending time with his and Sue’s families and friends.

In 2009, while body surfing with Sue in Ocean City, MD, Pat was hit by a rogue wave and sustained a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from his shoulders down and unable to breathe without the help of a ventilator. This accident may have broken Pat’s body; but it did not break his spirit. After his injury Pat lived a full and satisfying life. With strong will, determination, courage, and desire, Pat embarked on a mission to help others. He loved to go to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to meet with and inspire those with traumatic injuries and other severe disabilities. He served as a mentor to others through the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation and the Shepherd Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Center. He developed a very strong faith in God, and this faith greatly enriched his life. He also had a great group of people who helped him to live independently and to really enjoy life to the fullest. He would tell people that he was the luckiest man alive.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 10:45 in St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church,  9701 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814 followed immediately by a Reception in Celebration of his Life at Knights of Columbus, Rock Creek Mansion, 5417 W. Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814.