KU senior's "broken heart" leaves family, friends with loss

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Patrick Benedict, a former KU senior, died July 29 from Marfan syndrome. His friends called him a "gentle giant" and an "over-learner," and he stood at 6-foot-6.

Patrick Benedict never wanted anyone to feel bad for him.

He was a very private person, his mother said, and he didn’t like attention – especially attention in the form of sympathy for the genetic disorder that ultimately took his life July 29. That’s why he didn’t tell anyone about it.

As Benedict’s friends return to Lawrence and begin to realize they won’t have “Big Pat” to play video games with, to eat pizza on Sundays with, and just hang out with, they’re all feeling a huge sense of shock and loss.

“Close as we all were, he never said anything,” said Brent Kelley, Atchison junior. “I guess he just didn’t want to let it stop him from doing anything.”

Benedict, who would have been a senior this year, had Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that weakens the connective tissue and can cause defects in the heart valves.

Benedict died at KU Medical Center July 29 after his aorta — a key heart valve — ruptured beyond repair.

Kasey Benedict, Patrick’s mother, said their family always knew of his potential of heart problems, but that doctors believed Patrick’s condition was under control and that his death came as a surprise to everyone who knew him.

Long limbs and above-average height are also symptoms of Marfan syndrome. Kasey said Patrick was diagnosed at age 2 after his height and family history caused “red flags” for his doctor. He was 6 feet 6 inches tall when he died — a “gentle giant,” according to Anna Ashcraft, Shawnee junior.

Patrick was majoring in business at the University and was an honor roll student who always “over-learned,” Ryan Mattie, Overland Park senior, said.

“He was always interested in learning about everything,” Mattie said. “He ‘over-learned’ – he would read for class and then he would read another book on the same thing just because he thought it was interesting.”

Patrick’s studies focused on marketing and psychology, Kasey Benedict said. When he wasn’t reading, he loved playing guitar, eating pizza and spending time with his best friend — his older brother, Christian.

“He was just really nice and good to talk to,” Mattie said. “He had a great sense of humor; everything he said was always really well-thought out, and he was always there for you.”

Kasey Benedict said she felt a message left by a KU student for her family during Patrick’s funeral Aug. 1 summed up the tragedy of his passing.

“It’s so sad and ironic,” the message read, “that someone with such a big heart had to die because of a broken one.”

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