In Memory: Patricia D’Amico, Mother of WeHo’s Mayor, Dies of COVID-19 Complications

ADVERTISEMENT
Patricia D’Amico and here son, West Hollywood Mayor John D’Amico (Photo courtesy of Michael Poles)

Patricia Joyce D’Amico died on April 24 from complications due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.  She died on the day that the number of deaths from the global pandemic topped 50,000 in the US.  She was 90 years old.  She was mother to four children, including Mayor John D’Amico, his brother James, and sisters Kris and Karen, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  Patricia was warm and optimistic and often found herself excitedly telling stories from her regular life.

She was born in Detroit, Mich. in 1929 and married her husband James at the age of 20 in 1949, and they were together until he died in 1998.  Together they lived in Austin, Tex., during the 1950s, and in the mid 70’s moved to Maui, Hawaii, then spending some of the 1980s and 1990s in Las Vegas, Nev., and then she moved finally to California after her husband died to live near her son Jim.  She spent the last 18 months of her life in a memory care facility in Phoenix, Ariz.. near her daughters.  

Patricia D’Amico with her son John at his 2014 installation as Mayor of West Hollywood, surrounded by the WeHo Elite Cheerleaders.

“My mother graduated from high school at the top of her class, with a full scholarship to college and though her mother wouldn’t allow her to go to college, she remained intellectually curious her whole life,” said Mayor D’Amico.  “And she insisted that her two daughters and two sons all attend college, and for that we are all grateful.  My mother had a natural kind of pioneer fearlessness. With no education and few resources, she believed that everything and everywhere and everyone was an adventure to try to understand and enjoy.”

She started her own condo rental cleaning business on Maui, and worked in retail sales for Bullocks and JC Penney for at least 20 years.  She was an Eisenhower and Nixon Republican and a Kennedy and Obama Democrat.  She believed a little bit in magic, a little bit in God and mostly in caring and love.

“What I remember most about my mother through the years is that she was always happy, happy to be alive, happy with her kids, happy to know that she had enjoyed her life every day,” said D’Amico.  “As she found herself losing her memory in the last years of her life, she never lost her sense of joy and being present.  It was always a good reminder to me and our whole family that simple pleasures and a sunny disposition do add up.”

Patricia D’Amico on the beach with her husband James in 1979.

She loved putting her toes in the sand at the beach across the street from where we lived in Kihei. “In the bay nearby is where we spread my father’s ashes and once we can all travel again safely, we will spread my mother’s ashes there too, so that they can spend eternity on earth together,” said D’Amico.  

ADVERTISEMENT
5 1 vote
Article Rating
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

8 Comments
Newest
Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Joshua88
Joshua88
4 years ago

My condolences to the D’Amico family.

A lovely article about your mom.
You can treasure this forever.

Bill Sive
4 years ago

The #GayElderCircle sends out our heartfelt condolences to Mayor D’Amico on the passing of his mother.

Michael Poles
4 years ago

John – Linda and I want to express our heartfelt condolences over the loss of your mother. She was a lovely lady and it was a pleasure to have met her that day in the park and to have photographed you together. She will always be with you and live in your heart.
Linda and Michael Poles

Erik-Jon Schmidt
Erik-Jon Schmidt
4 years ago

It’s terrible and my heart goes out to the family. But, now maybe, just maybe John will start taking this crisis seriously as an election official charged with protecting the public. There has been no information flyers sent out to residents, no enforcement of protective masks in West Hollywood and the city waited almost three weeks to close bars and restaurants. Here is a perfect example where lack of leadership hits home. I lost my Mother and twin Brother (not to Covid) in the same year. I know what it is like and I hope that John’s family can find… Read more »

Yola Dore
Yola Dore
4 years ago

John sending my deepest condolences on your loss. May your treasured memories and the love of neighbors and friends give you strength at this time. My best, Yola

Rob Bergstein
Rob Bergstein
4 years ago

Ah, John….losing a parent is part of life….just the sucky part. May her memory be a blessing,

Larry Block
4 years ago

Sending love to the D’Amico family. May she Rest In Peace proudly for she was a super matriarch of an incredible clan of good people.

carleton cronin
carleton cronin
4 years ago

John, I well remember that day in the park and meeting some of your proud family. Do accept our condolences – Carl. and Toby