'He just wanted to entertain': 1998 Silver Streaks devastated by loss of teammate

GALESBURG — Twenty-four years after their second place finish in the Class AA boys state basketball tournament, the 1997-98 Galesburg Silver Streaks have suffered their toughest loss of all.

Patrick Hanlon, the team’s sixth man and occasional starter, died in Chicago on Dec. 29, the first member from the legendary team to pass away.

Obituary: Patrick Hanlon: 1980-2021

Hanlon, 41, a talented three-sport athlete, was a popular, fun-loving member also well known for his musical, dancing and acting talents.

“He was one of the most talented people I ever knew,” said Patrick’s older. brother Sean.

“He was smart, athletic, musical and he had charisma. It’s a combination not many people have.”

“I was devastated when I heard the news,” said Mike Miller, Hanlon’s coach with the Streaks.

“He brought a smile to every room he walked into. He kind of radiated positive energy no matter what he was doing.”

News of Hanlon’s death has shocked and saddened his ex-teammates, friends and even those who only knew him casually.

“It’s still fresh and it still hurts,” said Joey Range, the star of the 1997-98 team and one of Hanlon’s closest friends.

“I don’t like to talk too much about it.”

Although he returned to Galesburg to celebrate Christmas with members of his family, details of Hanlon’s passing in Chicago are not yet clearly known.

A private celebration of life was held Monday at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and the family plans for a public celebration of life July 23 at the Lake Storey Pavilion.

Looking back: For 1998 Streaks, memories live on

Hanlon, a football quarterback and pitcher for the Streaks baseball team and Legion Post 285, filled a valuable role for a 30-3 basketball team led by Range and starters Rod Thompson, Steve Glasgow, Taylor Thiel and Mike Tapper.

“Obviously he was a key piece,” Miller said. “Pat and Mike Tapper could play big and play guard and his flexibility gave us a lot of options on that team.”

But the atmosphere created by Hanlon’s sense of humor and fun also set a mood important to that season.

“It’s weird but when he got dressed in the lockerroom he always put his shoes on first,” recalled Thiel, also his catcher in baseball.

“That’s why I always came in late,” Miller said .

“He took his guitar to see Jason Wessels in the hospital,” recalled Sean Hanlon of his brother’s teammate who fell seriously ill during the season.

“He played him Adam Sandler’s ‘Happy Hanukkah” song and gave him a laugh when he really needed it.”

After high school, Hanlon attended Illinois Wesleyan University where he eventually roomed with his brother.

“He was my best friend,” said Sean, a star athlete in his days at GHS.

“We were close in age but we were always friendly to each other. It was a mutual admiration.

“I always admired the things he could do that I couldn’t do.”

Patrick Hanlon expressed his musical side after leaving college, singing in a rock band and later performing in a Chicago production of “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” where he appeared with Frankie Avalon.

An ex-teammate and longtime friend helped guide Hanlon toward his eventual career.

"He always lit up the room no matter where he was,”said Tapper, general manager of Bruce Foote Chevrolet in Monmouth.

“I told him you are perfect for car sales. You can talk to anybody, you can make friends with anybody.”

Hanlon’s passing has left a hole in many lives, particularly his parents John and Ruth Anne, his brothers Sean and Michael and his sons Jack and Brian.

But his brother Sean found a connection in a song they both admired shortly after his passing in the words to “Purple Rain” by Prince.

The song opens with “I never meant to cause you any sorrow, I never meant to cause you any pain.

“I only wanted one time to see you laughing.

“I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain.”

Said Sean, “It hit me incredibly hard.

“It was if Patrick was saying the words to me, mom and dad, Michael and Jack and Brian and anyone who loved him deeply.

He added, “He never meant to cause any pain whether it was sports or music.

“He just wanted to entertain.”

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: 'He just wanted to entertain': 1998 Silver Streaks devastated by loss of teammate