Patrick Creaven

Patrick Creaven March 23, 1984 – September 11, 2026 Patrick Creaven, beloved son, brother, family member, and friend, died on September 11, 2026, after living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for six years. He was 42 years old. Born on March 23, 1984, Patrick grew up in Benicia, California, where he attended elementary, middle, and high school. From an early age, he had a deep interest in sports and for writing. While still in high school, he began his journalism career writing for the Vallejo Times-Herald, covering local sports. Patrick attended California State University, Long Beach, where he earned a degree in journalism. While at Long Beach State, he served as sports editor of the Daily Forty-Niner, the university’s student newspaper. He also interned with and worked as a freelance writer for the Daily Breeze in Torrance. After graduating, Patrick returned to Northern California and worked as a sports writer for the Daily Republic in Fairfield. As the newspaper business evolved, so did Patrick’s career. He went on to become a local editor for AOL’s Patch Media, combining traditional journalism with the emerging world of online community news. His final professional position was with Wells Fargo’s social media team. Patrick was diagnosed with ALS in 2020. Although the disease gradually took away his ability to move and speak, it never diminished his intellect, his curiosity, his personality, or his determination to remain engaged with the world and the people around him. In the later years of his life, Patrick participated in groundbreaking brain-computer interface research aimed at developing new ways for people with paralysis to communicate. Researchers worked with Patrick to explore technology that could translate his attempted speech and other brain signals into communication. His willingness to participate reflected both his remarkable determination and his hope that what researchers learned from him might someday help others living with ALS and other neurological conditions. But Patrick’s life cannot be defined by ALS. To his family and friends, he was Pat — a deeply loved son and brother, a sports enthusiast, a journalist and writer, a keen observer of the world, and a person who remained intellectually engaged and interested in the things he cared about even as ALS placed extraordinary limitations on him. Patrick will also be remembered as someone who cared deeply about his family, friends, and the world at large, trying and succeeding in making it a better place. Patrick’s family is profoundly grateful to the many friends, caregivers, medical professionals, researchers, and others who supported Patrick and his family throughout his illness and helped make it possible for him to remain at home surrounded by those who loved him. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. Patrick is survived by his parents, Donald and Bridget Creaven; and his sister, Emily (Jason) Bellucci King. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to: • ALS Network (https://alsnetwork.org/.) • Bridging Voice (https://bridgingvoice.org/.) • Team Gleason Foundation (https://teamgleason.org/.) • Live Like Lou (https://www.livelikelou.org/.)

Patrick Creaven

March 23, 1984 - September 11, 2026