Patricia Hirsch Minkus Gainsboro

Patricia (Pat) Gainsboro, also known to many as Pat Minkus, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2025 at the age of 94. Pat was born along with her identical twin Joan (Rubin) on November 1, 1930 to Mae (Rosenstiel) and Albert Hirsch in Chicago, IL. She grew up on the South side of Chicago, moved to Los Angeles as a teenager, then returned to the North side of Chicago to finish high school. In 1952, she married Harold Minkus, and was happily married for 52 years until his passing in 2004. She then had the good fortune to meet and marry Leon Gainsboro, to whom she was married until his passing in 2019. Pat spent the first 20 years of her marriage in Chicago and Highland Park, IL, where she raised her 3 sons Robert (Susan), David (Susan) and Daniel (Susan). Once her boys were in school, she took on the role of Pre-school teacher at a local synagogue. In 1972, The family moved to Birmingham, MI, and Pat worked part-time as a personal shopper, sharing her wonderful sense of style with others. As a matter of fact, even in her later years, her friends knew Pat would always be fashionable with colorful clothes and unique necklaces. When Harold’s job took them to Paris for three years in the late 1970’s, she embraced the new culture, and enjoyed taking cooking classes and trying to communicate with the locals in French. She also obviously loved the Paris fashion scene. Pat and Harold returned to the Detroit area in 1981. When Harold retired, they relocated to Sarasota, FL, where Pat spent the rest of her life. Pat was an incredibly social person and made friends with virtually everyone she met. She had a way of always trying to see the positive in people, and was perpetually upbeat. “It is what it is”, and “this too shall pass” were two of her favorite sayings, and this attitude got her through whatever challenges she faced, including her own health issues as well as those of her two husbands. In addition to being an excellent cook, she played golf, and enjoyed playing mahjong, dominos and other activities that allowed her to socialize with friends. Pat is survived by her sons, seven7 grandchildren (Ariel, Ben, Sarah, Caroline, Michael, Jonathan and Jacob), and three great grandchildren (Leo, Sidney and Nora). She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Harold and Leon, as well as her three siblings, Richard, Florence and Joan. The family requests that any donation be made to the charity of your choice in her memory. A Celebration of Pat’s life will be held in the Chapel at Plymouth Harbor on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 3:00pm.

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Patricia Hirsch Minkus Gainsboro

November 1, 1930 - January 21, 2025