Sadly, highly respected and well-loved Old Boy, Patrick Stilwell passed away in Maritzburg in early June 2025, aged 81. He matriculated in 1962.
In 1957 Pat started in Form 1 at Boys High School where he was placed in School House.
During his first year he was the ‘skievie’ of Nic (Kleinkie) de Wet, one of the famed de Wet brothers of School House.
Pat had been preceded at the School by his elder brother, Allan.
After matriculating, Pat enrolled at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg where he completed a BA LLB degree.
On graduating, he joined Lesley Weinberg, an old established legal firm in Pietermaritzburg where he served his articles, and was later admitted to the Natal Bar. He remained with the firm for approximately 35 years during which he also became a partner.
During the early 2000s Pat further lectured law at the University of Natal and ran the Legal Aid Clinic there. During this time, he also served as an officer of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), Natal Branch.
During Pat’s final year at university, he was the President of the Students Representative Council for Maritzburg Campus, as well as the President of NUSAS.
Pat’s political leanings were generally to the Left and invariably controversial, even as a schoolboy. The story is told of his university digs which he shared with a couple of his pals who were similarly inclined.
Located in King Edward Road in Scottsville, their property was fondly known as ‘The Kremlin’ and their cat was renowned as ‘Brezhnev’, named after Leonid Brezhnev, the former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
His specialties on the athletic track were the 220 yards hurdles, and in his matric year he finished 3rd in the seniors final. He also represented the School House swimming team and was a member of its relay teams. He also played a number of rugby games on the wing for the first XV.
Pat is survived by his brother, Allan, wife Barbara, sons Tom and Jonathan, and their wider families.