Patricia (Pat) Rennish (née Solan) passed away at home on March 13, 2021 in Manassas, VA. She was 74. Pat was predeceased by her husband, John Rennish and is survived by her daughter, Veronica Owen (James), grandchildren Jesse and Riley and also by her stepchildren, Greg (Ruth and Jasmine), John and Denise (Shannon).
She was born a New Yorker on October 2, 1946 in Queens, to her parents, Marguerite (née Schwartz) and Vincent Solan and had a wonderful New York City upbringing with her sister Karen (deceased), surrounded by family and friends. She graduated from Sewanahaka High School in 1964, with honors and in 1968, from Drew University with a Bachelors of Arts.
In 1968, Pat was selected for the job of a Customs Inspector, where she completed training as the only woman in her class and began her career at John F. Kennedy International Airport, later transferring to Washington Dulles International Airport. Pat’s career in the former U.S. Customs Service defined her and she dedicated her life to the safety and security of the American people, protecting them from threats over decades that they will never even know existed. Pat served in a variety of leadership roles and ultimately was promoted to the rank of Chief Officer, a tremendous accomplishment for a women at the time as she was the first female promoted to this rank for U.S. Customs at Washington Dulles International Airport. Pat was a respected leader and throughout her career, she spent countless hours selflessly mentoring and coaching others to achieve their goals.
In 2008, with almost 40 years of service to the U.S. Customs Service and later U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Pat retired after a brilliant career where she paved the way for women. One of her greatest accomplishments was having a career in law enforcement during a time when most women shied away from such a profession. She was incredibly proud of being able to raise her family while advancing in her career. As a woman in a predominately male occupation, she handled herself with dignity and grace – usually the only women on shift, or in leadership and she proudly wore her Inspector badge when other women at the time were relegated to wearing an “Inspectress” badge.
In her later years, after retiring, Pat devoted herself to caring for her grandchildren and was often taxiing them from one activity to another. She spent countless hours rooting for Jesse and Riley as they participated in baseball, soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading, basketball, really anything and everything as she simply loved being a grandmother. She also had an incredible knack for finding the perfect birthday present, or locating a long sought-after item, either online or in stores that would bring joy and marvel as no one could figure out how she located these things with seemingly great ease.
Pat was an avid New York Giants fan and season ticket holder for decades; she traveled to home games faithfully from Virginia and enjoyed every win (and not nearly enough Super Bowl wins) with her best friend, Muriel Key. Muriel and Pat were a force to be reckoned with when working together at John F. Kennedy International Airport and even after retirement, they maintained a fiercely strong connection.
Pat’s love of all things Irish was firmly rooted in her name and heritage, and she loved all things Irish – music, dance and story. She was a voracious reader, although how she found time to do so is a mystery and she spent many an hour reading over a cup of coffee. She was a wonderful friend who would drop all she was doing if you expressed a need for help. She will be missed by all that were fortunate enough to know her. And so, this St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate a life well lived, raise a glass in honor of Pat – Slainte!
I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail – Muriel Strode
Recent Stories
Legislation to provide free breakfast to public school students across the state is moving forward in the General Assembly with committees set to review the cost, Virginia Mercury reports.
Sen. Danica Roem, D-Manassas, and Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-Alexandria, are leading the charge after a similar effort fell short last year. Bennett-Parker’s bill was shelved by the House Appropriations Committee due to competing priorities while Roem’s Senate bill was following an amendment by Gov. Glenn Youngkin directing a work group to evaluate the program’s potential impact.
More than two weeks after a power outage set off a series of events that crippled Richmond’s water treatment plant, Virginia regulators are putting the city on notice that it may have violated state law and are launching their own investigation into what went wrong, the Richmonder reports.
“The water crisis should never have happened and was completely avoidable,” wrote an official with the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water in a notice of alleged violation issued Thursday. “The City of Richmond could have prevented the crisis with better preparation.”
A majority of the residents who spoke during Wednesday’s public input session about Fredericksburg’s proposed Technology Overlay District acknowledged or even supported the city’s pursuit of data centers.
Rather, it’s the terms and timetable governing said pursuit that comprised most of their questions asked during a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council.
More than one speaker noted that adjacent jurisdictions, such as Stafford County, have taken up to six months from initiating the public process to voting for a data center. By contrast, Fredericksburg’s city council first discussed a Technology Overlay District in detail on Dec. 10 and could vote on related resolutions and ordinances as early as its Feb. 25 meeting.
On Thursday, January 23, 2025, members of the Fredericksburg Fire and Rescue Water Rescue Team conducted ice rescue training at the Twin Lakes Community. This rare opportunity was made possible by the recent sustained low temperatures that allowed waterways to freeze.
“We are rarely able to conduct this training, as the temperatures have to be low for a sustained amount of time for the waterways to freeze enough,” stated Fredericksburg Fire and Rescue in a Facebook post.
Officials caution that the ice remains dangerously thin. “As a reminder, the ice is still not thick enough for there to be no risk of falling through. Temperatures will warm throughout the next few days, making the ice even more dangerous. Please stay off the ice and encourage others to do so as well,” they advised.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
