Couple embody ‘neighborly spirit’

When Paul Patrick was notified that his neighbors had written to The Spokesman-Review to nominate him and his wife Doris as “good neighbors,” he was puzzled.

“Seems like a lot of fuss and bother about nothing,” he said. But to his neighbors in north Spokane’s Blackhawk development, he and his wife of 50 years are something special.

Mark and Rowena Hurtubise moved here from Seattle two years ago, and the Patricks warmly welcomed them. “Paul embodies the neighborly spirit,” Rowena said. “He and Doris go above and beyond what normal neighbors would do.”

Justin Hurtubise plays basketball for Mead High School, and the Patricks frequently attend his games. If he gets sick at school while his parents are working, he knows whom he can call. “Paul has come and picked him up at school and made sure he had special snacks or something to eat,” Rowena said.

Bob and Susan Carr live across the street from the Patricks. After moving 18 times in a span of 30 years, Bob said, he knows what constitutes a good neighbor, and he’s found it in the Patricks. “It’s the steady stream of little things they do that make them such great neighbors,” he said.

After a windstorm swept through the neighborhood, Carr saw Paul and Doris picking up the garbage that had been blown around and setting their neighbors garbage cans aright. “If a tree goes down,” he said, “Paul’s there ready to help.”

The Patricks are known for their acts of kindness and generosity. They pick up mail, water flowers and shovel snow for neighbors who are out of town. No one has to ask them for help. They just do what needs to be done.

After Paul retired from a 30-year career as an Air Force officer, he and Doris chose to settle in Spokane, having been stationed here twice during his career. “Once you put down roots, you don’t want to shuck them off,” Paul said.

He knows the name of every family living in their neighborhood and knows their kids as well. He appreciates the relationships they’ve cultivated. “I wouldn’t trade our neighbors for anything,” he said.

Ed and Leanne Smith enjoy having the Patricks nearby. “Doris makes the best pecan pie I’ve ever eaten,” Leanne said. “Sometimes there’s a knock at the door, and there’s Doris with a pie.”

The Smiths’ 3-year-old son, Jamin, looks forward to seeing “Mr. Paul and Miss Doris.” Leanne said,” They’re more like grandparents than neighbors.”

Paul is known for his meticulous lawn. He good-naturedly jokes with his neighbors about keeping up with the competition. “I’ve seen him out there edging with scissors,” said Smith, laughing. “Their lawn looks like a baseball park.”

Paul knows their neighborhood is rare in today’s society. “It’s not that people aren’t friendly,” he said. “It’s just that people are busy.”

According to neighbor Bob Carr, “They broke the mold when they made Paul. We’ve all benefited from the Patricks’ sense of community.”