Patrick J. Larkin

Taos resident Patrick Larkin passed away Aug. 27. He was 63. Patrick was born in Minneapolis in 1956. As a boy, he spent summers on his grandfather’s farm where he cultivated a deep love of the land and an abiding appreciation for the value of hard work. In 1967, Patrick’s family moved to the Bay Area, where exposure to the political and civil unrest of the time instilled in him an activist spirit and the moral imperative to speak out against injustice — be it political, environmental or otherwise. He was never afraid to call out hypocrisy or wrongdoing when he saw it. After high school, Patrick moved to Lake Tahoe where he dedicated himself to skiing and the mountains. He discovered sanctuary and life-affirming excitement on high ridges and steep slopes. He ultimately became a world-class skier, known for his grace, strength and agility. He also pursued his love of the arts by attending the Brooks Institute of Photography and becoming a master of 35mm film. Patrick first visited Taos in the late ‘70s, and moved there full-time in 1980, finding work at the Hotel St. Bernard in Taos Ski Valley to support his mountain lifestyle. As a young adult, Patrick adventured around the world. He received oil field training at Eastern New Mexico University, then went on to work as a crane operator on off-shore drilling rigs in Alaska’s Bering Sea. He also made several trips traveling across Europe, absorbing Old World culture. He returned often to Chamonix, France to take on some of the most spectacular and challenging skiing on the planet. He remained close to the many friends from around the globe that he made during that time. In 1992, inspired by the cafes he loved in Europe, Patrick started Black Diamond Espresso — a seasonal coffee cart on Bent Street in Taos that later included a location at Taos Ski Valley. The cart evolved to become World Cup Café — a Taos Plaza mainstay that remains a favorite gathering place for locals and visitors of every ilk. The business was built on quality, consistent coffee, as well as a genuine sense of community among regulars and staff. Patrick often became a mentor to his World Cup employees, who were expected to work hard, but who also enjoyed the benefit of his loyalty, wisdom and dry wit. In both his private and professional life, Patrick was known as a skilled craftsman who paid keen attention to detail. He built a home for his father in Taos and went on to build his own home and workshop. In 2006, Patrick bought 12 acres of lush valley land south of Taos to realize his lifelong dream of becoming a farmer. He put countless hours and most of his energy and enthusiasm into improving and restoring that land.  In 2008, Patrick met his partner Andrea. Together they embraced their love for permaculture, design, farm-to-table dining and sustainable living. Patrick and Andrea kept cows, sheep, goats, chickens and bees, and tended to a productive garden. The farm also offered the space to become a dedicated and deeply loving family man. On a missed powder day in early 2013, Patrick and Andrea welcomed their daughter, Oona, into the world. With the same vigor and devotion that he brought to all pursuits in life, Patrick poured himself into fatherhood. Patrick is survived by his partner, Andrea Meyer, and their daughter, Oona; his brother John Larkin (Cheryl); and sister Julie Power (Dell). He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Helen Larkin; and brother Robert Larkin, Jr.  

A memorial will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 11 AM at the St. Bernard Deck at Taos Ski Valley.