Former Waterloo Mayor Dies

WATERLOO — Kenneth Lee Patchen, Jr., 84, passed away Tuesday (January 28, 2025) at Huntington Living Center, Waterloo, NY. Family and friends may call 4 PM to 7 PM Tuesday (February 4) at Coe-Genung Funeral Home, 46 W. Main St., Waterloo, NY. The memorial service will be 10 AM Wednesday (Feb. 5) at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 35 Center St., Waterloo, NY. Fr. Jim Fennessy, pastor of the church, will officiate. Spring burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Waterloo, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Memorial Day Museum, 35 E. Main St., Waterloo, NY 13165 or St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 35 Center St. Waterloo, NY 13165. Lee was born November 16, 1940 in Geneva, NY, the son of Kenneth Lee Sr. and Adelma “Sally” Evans Willower Patchen. He was a 1958 graduate of Waterloo High School, and went on to attend classes at Auburn Community College and RIT. Lee also served in the US Army Reserve from 1958-1961. He worked for W.F. Humphrey Press in Geneva, NY before becoming a realtor and establishing Patchen Real Estate in 1972. Lee notably served as mayor of Waterloo for 20 years, and was a member of the Rotary and Lions Club. He was a communicant and member of St. Mary’s Church. Lee is survived by children Christine (née Patchen) Garafalo and Timothy (Theresa) Patchen of Seneca Falls, NY, and Patrick (Lisa) Patchen of Fayetteville, NY; grandchildren Michael Garafalo, Catherine (Omer Butt) Garafalo, Lucas Patchen, Joe Patchen, Miles Patchen and Tate Patchen; brother Maurice (Ruth) C. Patchen of Whitby, ON, CA; brother-in-law James J. King; sister-in-law Patricia (Sal) Spano; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Connie Patchen; sister Kathleen King; and his parents.