Tyler Patterson, 33, a former standout athlete from Owls Head, Maine, passed away unexpectedly on May 2, leaving behind a grieving family and community.
Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 305 pounds, Tyler played as an offensive lineman for the University of Maine Black Bears, contributing to both the offensive line and special teams.
Tyler Patterson’s passing has been a heartbreaking shock to everyone who knew him.
Among the many heartfelt messages shared after Tyler Patterson’s passing, friends and former teammates have also begun expressing their shock and sorrow.
Justin Forrest Snow, who remembered playing Little League with Tyler, shared his disbelief and confusion, asking what had happened.
What the hell happened? He was on Rotary with me in little league
Justin Forrest Snow
Trevor Joseph Bates responded that Tyler collapsed around midnight, though the exact details have not yet been confirmed.
I’m not sure, all I’ve heard is he collapsed around midnight
Trevor Joseph Bates
Family And Friends Mourn The Loss Of Tyler Markieth Patterson Sr.
Tyler’s uncle, Alverse Patterson, urged family and friends to hold their loved ones close in the wake of this tragic loss.
He spoke about cherishing every moment with those we care about, as life can change instantly.
Mourning the passing of his nephew, Alverse offered love and support to Tyler’s father, Keith, his mother, Michelle, and other family members, including Jen, Carolann, and Isaiah.
Tyler Patterson was married to Jen and was a proud father of two children.
His father, Keith Patterson, shared a deeply emotional message following the tragedy, expressing their final moment together with Tyler the night before Tyler died.
They had spoken in the driveway and hugged, as they always did.
Keith expressed how, if he had known it would be the last time he saw his son, he would have never let go. He described Tyler as everything he could have hoped for in a son—a man who had become an even better father and an inspiration to those around him.
Never in a million years did I ever think I would write a post like this. We spoke yesterday evening in my driveway and hugged like we always did. If I knew that it was going to be my last one with you, I would’ve NEVER let go! Tyler, you are everything I could have wanted for a son, and you were a better father and better man. The sun will never shine as bright again with you gone. Rest well son until we meet again. Your heart broken Dad
Keith Patterson
Similarly, his mother, Michelle, shared her heartbreak upon learning the devastating news.
She spoke of the deep sorrow that no mother should ever have to face the loss of her child.
Her heart, she said, had been torn to pieces. Overwhelmed with grief, she expressed her love for Tyler, calling him her baby boy and struggling with the painful reality that she, as a mother, now has to bury her son.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- During his senior year in 2012, he appeared in seven games. In 2010, he played in games against Syracuse and Villanova.
- Tyler redshirted in 2009, meaning he sat out that season, but he had four more years of eligibility to play. He was also recognized as a Maine Scholar-Athlete Rising Star.
- Before joining the University of Maine, Tyler played high school football at Rockland High School.
