It is a deep honor (though a painful one) for me to write this about Patrick Renfro, RN, MS, CRC, CDMS. Patrick died on 01/09/2014. Patrick was my friend. I respected and appreciated his work and his thinking. Patrick died after an increasingly difficult 20-month battle with renal cell carcinoma. He died after living a rich 66-year life, mostly in the Denver area.
He died at his home surrounded by family, including his wife of 41-years (Linda Renfro), his son and daughter-in-law (Sean and Crystal Renfro), his daughter (Heather Nassimbene), and his 5 grandchildren (Kayla Hollopeter, Egor Renfro, Aleksandr Renfro, Nadia Renfro, and Denny Renfro). Other family members surviving Patrick are his mother (Martha Renfro), his sister (Cindy Cartwright), and his son-in-law (Michael Nassimbene).
I met Patrick 15 years ago- It was either at a NARPPS conference or at a training session related to the software I was selling, I can't remember which. Since then, he and I spent many hours speaking about cases, about views, and about science...
For the past 30 years, Patrick was mainly a Forensic Rehabilitationist, with both medical and vocational expertise. He was also a published author, regular presenter at educational seminars (local and national), and a teacher (at the University of Phoenix) with both graduate and undergraduate nursing and business programs. Patrick chose his own path through life - at 23 he got his BSN (from CSU-Fresno), and at 32 he got his MSN (from U of CO). It was not very common for men to pursue Nursing back then. At 43, after 20 years of active and reserve duty, he retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.
By the way, in case you work in that part of the country, you may be interested in knowing that though Patrick has died, his wife Linda and two long-time employees (Rehabilitationists Kristine Harris, MS, CRC and Jamey Floreck, BA, CLCP) continue to run the firm that Patrick started. Patrick, I can still hear your voice- deep, authoritative, and thoughtful. I'll miss you, friend.
Steve Bast