Patrick J. Elshaw

Patrick J. Elshaw (“Patrick J.” the host of our Friday night No Toes Up alt rock show)

Patrick J. was one of the original WERU DJs when the station first went on the air, and hosted No Toes Up on Friday nights at 10:00 for many years. Patrick passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly on December 25, at his home in Hampden. He was 45. The cause of his death was a coronary embolism. Patrick is survived by his wife, Cindy, and his two children, Natalie and Anton, as well as many family members and friends. WERU asks listeners to keep Patrick’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Patrick J. was extremely knowledge about progressive and alternative rock and loved sharing the music with his audience. He was deeply admired and loved at WERU, and over the years influenced a number of listeners to become WERU DJs themselves. Patrick served on many committees at WERU over the years (Programming, Full Circle Fair and others) and served as Assistant Music Director. Patrick J. Patrick was warm, funny, sincere, intelligent and much loved and respected, at home, at work and at WERU. He will be terribly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Memorial Gifts (in lieu of flowers at Cindy’s request) may be made to:

WERU, P.O. Box 170, East Orland, Maine 04431

Please indicate “Patrick J. Memorial” on the envelope and/or memo line.

Messages of condolence may be emailed to: info@weru.org

or shared through www.hampdengilpatrick.com

From the 12/28/05 issue of the Bangor Daily News:

PATRICK J. ELSHAW

HAMPDEN - Patrick Joseph Elshaw, 45, the husband of Cindy Elshaw, passed away Dec. 25, 2005. He was born, Sept. 2, 1960, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Ernest Joseph and Annabelle Elshaw. Patrick and his wife, Cindy, moved to Maine in 1987, in search of a lifestyle more in tune with their approach to life. Here Pat shared his love of the outdoors and the natural beauty of his chosen home with his family, as they went on hiking, camping and canoeing trips together around the state. Patrick had been employed at Bangor Savings Bank for the past 14 years. Patrick truly loved music. He found an outlet for his passion with the advent of the radio station WERU, where he volunteered as a programmer from the day the station went on air and also served as an assistant musical director and on several of the station's committees, including the Personnel and Programming Committees. Here Patrick was able to share with others his incredible knowledge, enthusiasm and love of the music and artists he so enjoyed. He was loved by his second "family of friends" and his presence in and around the station will be sorely missed. Patrick is survived by his wife of 20 years, Cindy Elshaw; a son, Anton Joseph Elshaw; and a daughter, Natalie Elshaw, all of Hampden; two sisters, Noreen Elshaw, of Hendersonville, N.C. and Alison Davis of Tigrid, Ore.; his mother-in-law, Helen Brunkala; and many, many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Annabelle and Ernest Elshaw of Willowick, Ohio. Visiting hours will be held 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday, at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden, where a funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Brad Mitchell, a family friend, officiating. Interment in the springtime will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Hampden. In keeping with Patrick's love of music, memorial gifts may be made to; WERU Radio, P.O. Box 170, East Orland, ME 04431, in lieu of flowers. Messages of condolence or memories may be shared through www.hampdengilpatrick.com