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Mt. Lebanon woman keeps son’s memory alive with food drive

By Jon Andreassi staff Writer jandreassi@observer-Reporter.Com 3 min read
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Courtesy of Christine Patti

Donations stacked up in Christine Patti’s garage. She is collecting donations for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank through July 28.

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Courtesy of Christine Patti

David Bannon, Christine Patti and Mimi Bannon pose for a photo at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., in December 2019. Patti said it was the last time the three of them were together before David’s death the following July.

Two years later, the loss of her son has not grown any easier for Christine Patti.

Patti has organized food drives each year since David Bannon, 34, died on July 28, 2020, though she was not sure she would continue this year.

“I was struggling to think if I should do anything this year. My daughter, Mimi Bannon, suggested that I continue to honor my son, her brother’s legacy,” Patti said.

This year, Patti is collecting donations for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank right at her doorstep in Mt. Lebanon until July 28.

“The Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is just a wonderful organization. My son David was a huge believer in giving back. We wanted to honor his legacy by also giving back,” Patti said.

Bannon had been working as a lead application engineer at AstraZeneca at the time of his death. Patti said he came down with three different strains of pneumonia.

Just months into the pandemic, COVID-19 restrictions meant his family was unable to be with him.

“We were only able to see him through an iPad. That itself was a nightmare,” Patti said.

Bannon graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in 2004. Patti formerly worked as a principal in the Mt. Lebanon School District, and later as a professor at California University of Pennsylvania. She is now retired.

Since she started collecting donations at the beginning of the month, Patti has collected large amounts of non-perishable goods and more than $12,000. That money will be able to provide 60,000 meals to families in need, she said.

Donations can be dropped off in bins at 420 Parkview Drive, Mt. Lebanon. Items the food bank is most in need of include food, hygiene products, dental supplies and paper products.

Patti has seen support from her former colleagues in the Mt. Lebanon School District, and donations have come steadily through the month.

“There has not been one day that something has not been on my porch. It’s usually multiple bags and packages,” Patti said.

Through holding the donation drives, Patti has also found support from people she never knew, many of them also struggling with outliving their own child.

“It’s a club no one wants to join. I have met so many wonderful parents who are in this club. They have banded around me and helped me survive this,” Patti said.

Being able to talk about Bannon and keep his memory alive has been helpful for Patti, who notes that time has not lessened the pain of her loss.

“What people don’t understand is year two has not been easier. Now I realize it will not get any easier,” Patti said. “The tears don’t flow every day, but the pain never goes away.”

While it continues to be difficult, the deluge of donations and support she has seen make it easier.

“It’s amazing, and I try to thank each person individually and tell them we feel their love,” Patti said. “It gives me hope. It gives me strength. Mimi and I are so appreciative of everyone’s love and generosity.”

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