Duane Patterson died following a fatal punch he received during his shift as a club bouncer on Christmas Eve.
His family and friends revered the 61-year-old for being a kind-hearted man, and his classification as an organ donor allowed him to save the lives of others, including his sister.
According to the New York Daily News, Patterson worked at Billymark’s West bar in New York City early on Christmas Eve. When a man reportedly attempted to enter the club after it closed, Patterson tried redirecting the man. However, their interaction escalated as the man became aggressive toward Patterson and punched him in the face, causing him to fall and his head to hit the pavement, resulting in Patterson having a cracked skull and suffering brain damage that put him in a coma.
“On Christmas, they told me he was braindead,” Melissa Buchholz, Patterson’s widow, told the Daily News.
Four days later, he died, and doctors removed his organs a week after the attack.
“They couldn’t relieve the pressure,” she said, according to ABC-7. “He couldn’t come back to us. He couldn’t come out of the coma.”
Patterson’s family donated his organs at his request to give others a chance at life. His kidneys and liver were removed, and one of his kidneys went to his sister.
Buchholz called Patterson “a witty, beautiful man, beautiful soul, great father. Just a loving great man.”
The Air Force veteran’s daughter, Arianna Buchholz, launched a GoFund Me campaign to raise money for funeral arrangements.
Arianna also spoke highly of her father’s character.
“My father was such a strong, honorable person and was always quick to make us laugh! We will love you dearly always and forever.”
The New York Daily News reports Patterson’s death is being investigated as a homicide. Police are asking for help identifying Patterson’s attacker, who ran away after the incident.
