At Patrick Woepse‘s Celebration of Life yesterday at a jammed packed Newport Beach church, the young man’s legacy among his family, friends, teammates, and classmates was summed up by a quote of fellow UCLA alumnus Jackie Robinson, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
As a former water polo player and English Channel and Catalina Channel swimmer, Woepse was the kind of guy whose life touched everyone he met. He was the ultimate roommate, teammate, friend, brother, son uncle, next-door neighbor, co-worker, and husband. He had a smile and a demeanor that not only put everyone at ease, but also lent a positive, enthusiastic, can-do vibe to the air.
Today, at a 2.5 km ocean memorial swim in Newport Beach, UCLA teammate and classmate Ryder Roberts joined others to honor the life of Woepse who passed away at the age of 31 from lung cancer. Roberts and Woepse played together on two NCAA Division I National Championship teams in 2014 and 2015. Woepse later went on the swim the 33.5 km English Channel in 2023 in 10 hours 28 minutes and the 32.3 km Catalina Channel in 2021 in 12 hours 53 minutes.
In 2021, he completed a 32.3 km crossing of the Catalina Channel in 12 hours 53 minutes with support by his 2015 and 2016 NCAA Championship water polo teammates from UCLA including Paul Reynolds, Daniel Lenhart, Elliot Ordway, Anthony Daboub, Ryder Roberts, and Erik Najarian with observers Forrest Nelson and Rebecca Nevitt.
In August 2023, he completed a 33.5 km crossing of the English Channel in 10 hours 28 minutes with escort pilot Eddie Spelling – and “didn’t even get cold“.
His wife, Maddie Musselman (@maddiemusselman) previously posted on Instagram, “Heartbroken. Patrick gained his angel wings last night 10/10/24 surrounded by family🪽 No words to describe the ache of missing him. He was the light of my life and my person. He was my first love and the best husband I could have ever asked for. He opened my heart up to what love is and looks like and I will forever do my best to love as hard as Patrick loved from this day forward. He was a true blessing from God.
And although it feels heavy and I can’t breathe as I sit here typing this out, he is no longer in pain and was so at peace during his last moments. He battled one of the most rare cancers for over a year, never complained, and fought harder than anyone should have to fight for something in their life✨ He fought EVERY DAY to be here with us as long as he could. His courage was seen daily from day one.
I was so lucky to have gotten a front row seat of Pat’s life for the past 3 years. Our time together was cut way too short. I know for a fact I will continue to share stories of him for the rest of my life… get ready for it all.
The peace of God and the comfort of His hands has been felt in so many places. I know Pat is looking down and smiling with that perfect smile of his. He is definitely overjoyed to be running and swimming around all freely up in heaven. I can’t wait to run into his arms again one day❤️ until then, I promised him I would keep living life with him as my angel, guiding and motivating me, and never ever forgetting the ways he has made my life amazing. He promised me he would continue to show up and all I have to do is just look for him🌟
I love you so much babe. I will be missing you forever.“
As will the many, many others who were fortunate enough to cross in his path.
© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
A World Open Water Swimming Federation project.