The beloved J.P. Patches passed away Sunday, July 22. He made his final public appearance at the Fishermen’s Fall Fest on Saturday, September 17, entertaining fans young and old.

Although Chris Wedes, the man behind the Julius Pierpont Patches persona, was diagnosed with acute myeloma in 2007, he seemed to still have a spring in his step and sass in his shtick. The 83-year-old playfully taunted kids and adults on stage playing “Simon Says” and other games in front of a cheering cast of thousands, well, several hundred easily. Many sported round red clown noses and wore T-shrts with his likeness. After the show, he marched over to a booth selling bobble heads, bumper stickers, coloring books and t-shirts of Gertrude and him, and he patiently autographed these items, plus vintage novelty items Patches pals brought. At least two hundred fans stood in line to say “Hello”, “Goodbye”, and “Thank you” to a Seattle icon and father figure and hero