When Pat Malloy was in about 6th grade, his mother noticed that the same genetic affliction that had struck his father had been passed down to him, and so when he was 15, she took a microcassette recorder into the local Department of Motor Vehicles, was walked through the eye test by the technician, and delivered the recorded cassette to Pat for memorization. Pat lived as a sighted person for nearly the next decade, despite not being able to read a Stop sign until he’s already parked at it - and even then, not really - they’re just - familiar.
In his early 20’s, Pat drifted into alcohol, and was fired from his job at his parents auto rental business - and spiraled. When he was in his mid-20’s, he was trying to get back on the right track, having gone through recovery and AA, and was 6 months into his now 30+ year sobriety, and had confessed his vision impairment. On an after-Christmas trip, his parents were killed when a series of rogue waves off the Isle of Tortuga took out their scuba vessel - a heavy trawler - killing all but a lone survivor. Against odds, the Franchisor for their auto rental business, and the executor trustee of the estate - allowed Pat to run the business. Within 3 years, Pat was operating one of the top locations in the franchise network, was selected to speak at an annual conference, and was rolling in the back of a stretch mini-limo, and being shuttled around by rental car staff.
Becoming part of the “in” crowd had its perks - and its dangers. A local ophthalmologist helped Pat get a medical waiver and get his driver’s license back! - and he sold the rental business, moved around the country and traveled, started and closed or sold other businesses, got married, and lived again as a sighted person for a decade. Eventually, Pat got divorced and moved to Eaton from the Lyons area, and nothing felt safe or familiar - and sacrificed his driving privileges again in 2012.
This is a wild one, with lots of moral ambiguity, inspirational entrepreneurship, and an almost-constant investigation of purpose and overcoming. Pat’s got a lot of talent in business and construction, and has time on his hands - so if you hear this conversation and have a new side-quest for Pat Malloy - and can provide transportation! - email him at pat.malloy@gmail.com
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