Patrick Sixto was born in Grande Riviere, Trinidad, the second oldest child of Roy and Claudia Sixto. His stories of childhood reflected his love for his five siblings, his adventurous spirit and his love of nature. Patrick’s work ethic developed at an early age through tending his hidden garden and jockeying to guide tourists through the Pitch Lake. His hard work led him to caddy for golfers and discover his passion for the game. His first career decision was to join the First Battalion Trinidad and Tobago Regiment where he made several life-long friendships. In 1967, he married Lera Alexander, the young woman who captured his attention three years prior. The following year, he immigrated to Canada and was soon followed by his young bride and their new baby, Richard. Unlike many Caribbean immigrants at the time, Patrick chose to go directly to Calgary. This decision launched a life-long career in Oil and Gas working on projects across Alberta, the Maritimes, and eventually Saudi Arabia. Calgary was also where Patrick shared his love of Carnival and T&T Culture. He was a founding member and past Executive Director of Calgary Carifest and President of the Trinidad and Tobago Canadian Association. He was instrumental in bringing the culture, food, and warmth of his birthplace to his home on the prairies. This was one of the many ways he gave back to the country that welcomed him.
Patrick was blessed to have travelled to over 20 countries, making many friends from around the world. His favourite adventures were climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, sailing the Nile, and visiting Sri Lanka. In his retirement years, he continued to travel, golfed twice a week, and found joy in building a magnificent garden, for which he received numerous awards.
As he neared the end of his life, Patrick simply said “Love one another”.
Patrick will be greatly missed by his wife of 54 years, Lera Sixto, his siblings, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and many others. He will be buried with his son, Richard Sixto, who pre-deceased him in December, 2020.
A Celebration of Life for Patrick Sixto and Richard Sixto, will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 2:30 pm with Laura-Lee Parris, Celebrant. A reception will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
28 Responses
Richard was a dear friend of mine. He forced me to talk with him after we bumped into each other on the bus a couple of times during high school (different schools but we both sometimes just liked to hop on the city-wide bus just to see what we could see).I was quite shy at the time…Richard certainly was not. We later found each other at Mount Royal and he made a point of finding me wherever I would hide…making me dance throughout the food court, my Star Wars marathon blanket buddy at movie night in the campus pub… He had frequent sleep overs at my various apartments on Saturday nights (no matter what either of us were doing that evening…I could bank on him knocking on ir tossing stones on my window at 3am) so we could brunch Sunday morning. About a year before Covid, I realised I had not seen his FB posts in awhile and went to his page. He had unfriended me. I was livid and quickly called him to give him a piece of my mind. After calming me down…and laughing at me simultaneously, he said, “My page is limited to ‘x’ number if people so I had to drop some”?, I gasped. He chuckled, “I don’t need to see what you post on FB. You, you I pick up the phone for.” He had a way of calming a hysterical me.
I had been visiting him in Vancouver almost every summer but missed that year due to Covid. Watching his online service, I was quite disconnected and three years later I have still not processed his absence. I suspect part if that is that he pops up all the time in my life.
I met Patrick at Carifest. I called him Papa Sixto. He seemed to get a kick out of that and giggled like a school girl every time thereafter. My interactions with him were far too infrequent but he gave hugs with his whole heart and soul. He was sunshine!
There was a story that I tried to tell during Richard’s service but could not get through. Honestly, there was much I could not relate to as all these people did not know the Richard I did and it confused me. Of course, everyone knew the larger than life guy…but it seemed not as many new that boy riding on the bus watching the rest of the world pass or my frequent brunch companion. I was going to reach out to Patrick after, but my avoidance of reality prevented it. I was so sad I never got to tell him this story. As I cannot find out how to contact Rich’s mom and sister, I hope they will read this here. Richard has been bombarding me lately (old letters and sketches found in my parents basement-they are moving-, a photo being auctioned on a friend of a friend of a friend’s fundraiser that crossed my FB feed, a post on his memorial page that jumps on mine that is otherwise filled with ads these days talking about how their FB feed is filled with ads).
After all that, my short story…
Richard and I would sometimes disconnect for months then see each other daily for months. Between jags, I would always be amazed how his hair would change. Beards, moustaches, sideburns, afros, shaved head, dreads, cornrows, flat tops, clean shave, soul patches, goatees…all over the place. I would always marvel at his chameleon ability (yet he always looked like himself) and the speed at which he could grow hair, while mine maybe lengthened a 1/4 inch over years. He would often lament getting older, not because he he feared losing his hair like his dad, but because he was worried about growing the very hairy chest his father sported. He would laugh and laugh that his skinny body could not support the weight of his dads chest hair. It did not happen, and in a way, I think he was a little disappointed.
I am so sorry I did not get to tell Patrick this, but I hope someone can pass this, and my love, along to his mom and sister. I hope they get a small chuckle from it.
Deepest condolences from the Trinidad and Tobago Canadian Association and our community.
Our condolences to your family and friends. I had known Patrick for many year we grew together in La Brea met up with him a few years ago back home on vacation with his wife . May you continue to sleep in eternal peace blessings and enjoy your spiritual life with the Angels
Michael Straker
Our family met the Sixto’s back in 2002 in Saudi Arabia, and there blossomed a great friendship. There was never a dull moment with Patrick as he enjoyed filling every room with laughter. Thank you for everything over the years.
Condolences to the Sixto family from Michael, Phyllis, Michelle, Anton and Nicole Straker.
Rest in Peace my friend.
Our family met the Sixto’s back in 2002 in Saudi Arabia, and there blossomed a great friendship. There was never a dull moment with Patrick as he enjoyed filling every room with laughter. Thank you for everything over the years.
Condolences to the Sixto family from Michael, Phyllis, Michelle, Anton and Nicole Straker.
Rest in Peace my friend.
Our first President and one of the founding members of the T&TCA of Calgary and also one of the Carifest founding members. Thank you for the vision to keep the Red, White and Black flying high and to help keep the culture alive in Calgary. I’ll never forget our Friday Night family sessions with you on the piano and as we joined in with our iron, bottle and spoon knocking with the ladies cooking up a storm at Odd Fellows Hall. Those were the days and coming here from Montreal in 1983, it was a pleasure rallying with you throughout the years. Coming to your home to pick up my records, our yearly picnics, the barbecue’s and different functions that you headed up were always appreciated. You will be sadly missed by all. Leera and Family, we do hope that some of these memories and more bring endless peace & comfort, knowing Pat did things “His Way”. Heartfelt condolences to the you and the Sixto family. Clare and Mervyn Joseph
RIP Patrick Sixto and Richard Sixto Condolences from Marilyn and Ash Springer , We listened to the beautiful service on Zoom today. Lera and Lorraine our hearts are with both of you at this time.
I am will remember one of Patrick sayings that he shared with me so many, many years ago and I still use today when I wake with my body ache or not in a great mood to “Springer’s Look Your Self in The Mirror Say I Love You and Give Yourself a Big Hug”
Mr. Sixto – thank you. For your warmth and kindness over the years, for your good counsel, for fresh figs, for El Dorado rum. I am blessed to have made your acquaintance.❤️