Rest in peace, J.P. Patches! (April 3, 1928 – July 22, 2012)

According to the staff at KOMO News,

Julius Pierpont (J.P.) Patches was the “Mayor of the City Dump”, where he lived in a shack and welcomed frequent guests: Seattle boy scout and girl scout troops, various local and national celebrities. Among his more well-known guests were Colonel Sanders, Jacques Cousteau, Slim Pickens and Tiny Tim.

When I asked a few friends what their fondest memories of the clown were, here are some of the responses I got.

“In the basement there was a mysterious creature that was really scary and you never saw it. It kept me coming back for more. I got up every Saturday morning to watch him…Was he on Saturday mornings? I don’t even know anymore.” -Lisa Orth

“Oooogaaaa chaakaaaa! I loved it when that bit of the song came on with the neighbor character’s arrival.” -Lynda Sherman

“He’s a clown, right?” -Erin Frost

“Sorry, anti clowner. My Dad used to clown so they freaked me oooouT.” -Victoria Liss

“Gertrude and the hole.” -Leslie Riibe

“I remember he would swim laps at Mount Lake Terrace pool while I did my deep water aerobics. He was a very friendly, nice man. A real family man.” -Mom

“It’s sad when a clown dies.” -Anna Blunk