McNamara, Patrick

NISKAYUNA — Patrick McNamara, 62, passed away on February 22, 2022, from a heart attack at his home.

Born in Utica in 1959, he grew up in Clinton and is the son of Jack “Mac” McNamara and the late Rosemary “Ro” Beerhalter McNamara. He was a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Rochester in 1981, and received his Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School where he was published in the Boston College Law Review.

Patrick practiced law in New York City for 27 years before moving to the Capital District. He was known as a lawyer with good business advice and as a hardworking and valued colleague. He is the owner and director of the Sylvan Learning Center in Albany and Clifton Park. He considered Sylvan his extended family and received profound fulfillment in changing children’s lives.

Patrick’s life was significantly influenced by his love for music. He took pride in performing with an orchestral ensemble of the Eastman School of Music as a student in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rochester, a recognition of his musical talent and a rare honor for a student who was not a Music major.

After law school he pursued a practice specializing in entertainment law, and worked with a wide range of artists, managers, producers, and record labels. He was on the board of directors of the Northeast Ballet Company and of Friends of Mozart, a chamber music organization