MADISON – Patrick Michael "Pat" Connaughton, age 64, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2026, at UW Hospital in Madison, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born on March 27, 1962, in Madison, Wis., Pat was the son of Nels and Carol Connaughton. A lifelong Madisonian, he attended Hoyt and Odana Elementary Schools, Van Hise Middle School, and West Senior High School.

Pat’s career in the hospitality industry began early as a busboy at the Cuba Club, a start that led to other kitchen prep and cooking jobs, ultimately with a long-standing, respected tenure as the day manager at the Regent Street Retreat. A versatile professional, Pat both managed and performed every task from bartending and cooking, to kitchen logistics, and eventually included event planning and scheduling for the stage acts in The Annex. He was perhaps most identifiable for his presence on Badger Football Saturdays, where he manned the Retreat’s outdoor bratwurst grill next door, in the Bicycle Shop’s parking lot; a fixture of Madison’s game-day experience.

Pat truly enjoyed his volunteer shifts supporting the Brat Fest as a grill meister.

Outside of his professional life, Pat was an avid automobile enthusiast. Together for 43 years with Robin Hoffman, they shared a passion for car shows and racing, spending countless weekends together at shows and the track. Some of Pat’s fondest memories were of prepping and showing Jim Conant’s “Mister Blue”, an artfully restored, pristine, 1965 Chevy C-10 Pick-up Truck, that garnered many show awards.

Pat is survived by Robin Hoffman; his mother, Carol Connaughton-Conant; his sisters, Kristie (David) Annen, Janet Organ, and Laura Larsen; and extended family members Rob Conant, Marti Prine, Jim Conant, and Joe (Erin) Conant, as well as a community of dear family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Nels Connaughton, stepfather, James Conant, and brother-in-law Bill Organ.

A visitation will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Rd., on Monday, August 17, at 10:00 a.m. A Celebration of Pat's Life will follow at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Pat's memory to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.

The family would like to thank the doctors and medical staff at the UW Hospital for their caring and professional attentiveness to Pat in his final days.

Pat will always be remembered as a jovial, happy-go-lucky guy; a friend to all.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Rd   Madison

608-238-3434