EIU and its Department of Economics wish to extend condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and former students of longtime professor Patrick Miner Lenihan.
Lenihan married Clara Eugenie “Genie” Osborn in August 1960, with whom he shared a life for 59 years until her passing in 2020. He and Genie traveled the world with a variety of friends, visiting six of the seven continents. Together, they settled in Charleston, Illinois in 1967 and raised 3 children, Colleen (Tim) O’Meara of Madison, Wisconsin, Michael (Kathleen) Lenihan of Cupertino, California and Sheila (Jim) Feyrer of Hanover, New Hampshire.
Lenihan taught Economics at at EIU for 33 years, from 1967 until his retirement in 2000, with a primary focus on Labor Economics. He further cemented his EIU legacy in 2008, working with wife Genie to establish the Patrick Lenihan Graduate Fellowship in Economics. When not teaching, Lenihan enjoyed his time in Charleston golfing with a regular group. He also held many roles at Charleston Community Theatre, including chorus member, lead actor, director, and producer. In 2020, he moved to New Hampshire to be closer to family. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, November 7. Lenihan's full obituary is available here.
A local celebration of life will be held at a 3 to 5 p.m. open house Saturday, December 5, at the Charleston House, 956 6th Street, Charleston, Illinois.
Booth House
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Ave.
Charleston, IL 61920
217-581-7400
jdreinhart@eiu.edu