Patrick Anthony Tierney (P.A.T), 89, formerly of Tucson, Arizona, passed away Friday, July 24, 2026, at his residence in Tall Grass Creek, Overland Park, Kansas.
Pat was born on St. Patrick’s Day in 1937 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Thomas P. Tierney and Catherine (Kay) F. Doerr. Pat was a proud graduate of Little Flower Elementary School and Mercy High School. After high school, Pat attended Quincy University, Quincy, Illinois and later joined the US Army where he was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In 1960, Pat started as a night room clerk at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri. Pat was later promoted to the hotel sales department, which served as a gateway to a successful tourism industry career. After several other sales positions with hotels, including The Diplomat, The Colony, and Lodge of the Four Seasons, Pat joined the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Bureau as a sales representative in 1970. In 1974, Pat joined the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he later served as President from 1980 to 1986. Among his numerous accomplishments in Kansas City, Pat was responsible for booking the first convention in the new Bartle Hall Convention Center and as President, he successfully attracted the 1988 NCAA Men’s Final Four Basketball Championship (Rock Chalk, Jayhawk). For the next two years, Pat worked for his long-time friends at Atwood Convention Publishing serving as Vice President of New Business Development. In 1988 until his retirement in 1999, Pat served as President of the Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau where he was instrumental in developing sports, arts, and culinary events that shaped and boosted Tucson’s tourism. A key member of his staff commented he was a dearly loved and tremendously effective and supportive manager. Pat also served two separate terms on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau. While retired, Pat co-founded Exhibitors Visibility Worldwide, a medical publishing company for major medical groups. Given his love for the game of golf, Pat also co-founded The Golfe, a 1,000-member association of golfers in the tourism industry.
While working at the Diplomat Hotel in 1964, Pat met the love of his life, Sharon Rivolta, whom he proudly confessed that he proposed to on their first date. Pat and Sharon were married in 1965 starting a life together that would span 57 years and take them from St. Louis to Shawnee, Kansas, and ultimately to Tucson, Arizona, where they resided for 35 years. In 1971, through the gift of adoption, he became a father to Tiffany Rose. Pat adored Tiffany and as a gifted storyteller, he was often heard reciting the tale when he cried like a baby the day she was first placed in his arms. Pat, PT, or “Papa” also adored his three grandchildren Tierney Rose, Ethan James, and Aidan Patrick. Whether reading improvised skippy the dog stories, planning elaborate holiday scavenger hunts, sharing his love of comic strips, movies, and music, or patiently teaching them to play golf and billiards, Papa always did it with love and laughter. Through his career in the tourism industry, Pat was fortunate to have traveled much of the world, and in doing so, he played many world-class golf courses with numerous celebrities including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Bo Jackson. However, he always commented that his favorite golf partner was his grandson, Ethan.
During his retirement, Pat joined Tucson National Golf Club, where he continued to play golf three times a week into his 80s. After Sharon’s passing in 2023, Pat relocated to Tall Grass Creek (aka “The Creek”) in Overland Park, Kansas, where he could be closer to Tiffany, her husband and favorite son-in-law Dave, and his grandchildren.
Pat is preceded in death by his parents, wife Sharon, brothers Chris (Patti) and Tom, and Sharon’s siblings Gary (Jackie) and Valerie. Pat is survived by his daughter Tiffany (Dave); his brother John (Nancy); sister-in-law Georgine; and Sharon’s siblings Joann (Charles) and Mark (Vicki) and brother-in-law Robert. In addition, he leaves behind his grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, who adored their Papa/UP. Pat (aka Wally Ballou) also leaves behind a large group of friends he accumulated throughout his lifetime that were an important and cherished part of his life.
Pat was a genuine friend to all those he met, and he was always quick with a story or joke to go along with a cleansing lager/beezo or a glass of vino. He will be remembered for his leadership, positivity, humor, and unwavering devotion to family and friends.
Visitation will be held Saturday, August 15th, from 10:00 to 11:00am at Porter Funeral Home (8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS 66215) followed by a Memorial Service from 11:00 to 12:00pm.
A luncheon for all of Pat’s loving friends and family will be held immediately following the ceremony; details to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please offer donations to Youth on Their Own (1660 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson, Arizona 85712) where Pat previously served as a Board member.