William "Patrick" Fogarty

William Patrick “Pat” Fogarty, age 73, passed away peacefully on October 20th 2025 after a long battle with cancer. Pat was born on January 29, 1952, in Omaha, Nebraska, son of the late William G. and Erma (nee: Connor) Fogarty.

Pat is survived by his wife of forty years, Elaine Fogarty (nee Bertelsen). He is also survived by his stepdaughters Diane Johnson and Lovevetta Bertelsen; grandchildren, Raven (Larry) Hill, Edwardo Collins, Antonio Johnson, Ashanti and Aliyah Nash; his siblings, Barbara Powell, Michael Fogarty, and Kathleen (Paul) Pankow; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Sr. Marietta Bertelsen O.P., Joan Guentner, Harold Bertelsen, Toni Bertelsen, Jeanette (Glenn) Urick, Virginia Orlowski, Richard Bertelsen, and Diane (Dennis) Walker; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

At the age of 6 months, Pat contracted polio and spent 3 months in the hospital. As a result of his illness, he lost full function of his left arm. In the summer of 1958, he moved with his family to Kansas City, KS where he attended Christ the King grade school, until his family moved to Milwaukee in 1965. There he completed grade school at St. John de Nepomuc grade school.

Pat graduated from Messmer High School in Milwaukee “Class of 1970” and was the treasurer of his senior class. He loved music and played the trombone with some of his high school friends in the band “Galloping Crud”. Pat earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in accounting from UWM and later received his CPA.

On July 6, 1985, Pat was united in marriage to the love of his life, Elaine Bertelsen, at the Siena Center Chapel.

Pat worked for several accounting firms before opening his own, Fogarty and Associates, LLC. After selling his firm in 2020, he worked part time for Gordon J. Maier & Company LLP up until this past spring.

Pat was a dedicated member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, and a Racine Dominican Associate for the past 40 years. He was on the board for several non-profit organizations, such as the Volunteer Center of Racine County, Cops and Kids, and the HOPES Center, among many others. Pat loved to travel and his multiple trips to Europe. Known for his love of and sense of humor, Pat wrote one-act plays, some of which were performed in Racine and Milwaukee. He had deep compassion and love for everyone he met. He was a fantastic conversationalist, especially if it involved the Packers or the Brewers. Although Pat is no longer physically with us, we will carry his legacy of love and compassion in all that we do.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Siena Center Chapel, 5635 Erie Street, Friday November 7, 2025, 10:00 a.m. There will be a time of sharing starting at 9:00 a.m. Memorials to the Sisters of St. Dominic of Racine or the Volunteer Center of Racine County have been suggested.