Rest in Peace, Patti McGee: A True Skateboarding Icon (1945-2024)
The skateboarding world is heartbroken by the news of legendary Patti McGee's passing on October 17, 2024. An icon, an innovator, a skateboarder, and a straight-up badass, Patti's influence on skateboarding will live on forever.
All of skateboarding felt this one. It's a tough pill to swallow, and while I've seen countless heartwarming posts from top pros, skateboarding enthusiasts, friends, family and everyone else in between sharing memories and stories of Patti, I really enjoyed former TWS alumni, Miki Vuckovich's post (above) and all the kind words he shared:
"last saw Patti McGee less than two weeks ago at the Oceanside Band Shell, site of many historic skateboarding events. Except this time she was there cheering and supporting a group of youth and adaptive skateboarders at the competition, more than a half century after she made national and international news, winning the first Women's National Skateboarding Championship title in 1964," he wrote on Instagram.
"She would appear on the covers of both LIFE magazine and Skateboarder magazine the following year, plus the Dick Clark Show and other popular TV programs. She was the poster girl for the 'Craze And The Menace of Skateboarding,' as LIFE magazine called it. And in the past couple of decades, she and her daughter could be seen at skate events, large and small, continuing to share her story, her presence, and her support for the new communities that have adopted skateboarding as their own—groups that hadn't previously seen themselves in skateboarding, but have stepped in to become part of our growing community."
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I was fortunate enough to meet Patti a few times myself and she was always the kindest, most charming human. An absolute legend! Yet so humble, real and sincere. One thing was certain—she loved skateboarding. And skateboarding loved her right back. The mark she left on the culture is incredible and the influence she had is monumental. Style like hers can't be faked! She was as real as it gets.
"A couple days after we were with her in Oceanside, Patti entered hospice care," Miki continued. "She passed last night, and the tributes have been rolling through the channels like a champion skateboarder who saw an opportunity to share what she loved and went for it. And she continued sharing, right to the end."
News like this is never easy to take, but it's a great time to reflect and remember just how amazing of a person Patti was. If you skate, then I'd guarentee you've been seeing posts about the news as well. Take some time and read through the stories, scroll through some photos and honor the life of skateboarding's official queen, Patti McGee. Our hearts go out to her entire family.
"The Queen is dead," Miki concluded. "Long live the Queen."
And we'll echo that, Mik. RIP Patti McGee.
