Patrick Lee Goddard of Durango, Colorado, passed away on September 29, 2026, at the age of 58. He is deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by his family, his friends, and all who were lucky enough to be in his presence.

Pat was born in Denver on August 23, 1968, and graduated from Durango High School in 1987. During high school and his college summers, he worked at the Putnam family's fish farm where his fascination with fish first took hold. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in molecular cellular developmental biology, earned a master’s degree in fisheries from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 2002.

From 2002 to 2005, Pat served as a fish health specialist with the Utah Division of Natural Resources in Logan and then Moab, where he worked on the preservation of fish species native to the Colorado River basin.

An outdoorsman through and through, Pat was an avid river guide on the Animas, Green, Snake, Alsek, Nenana and Colorado rivers, and loved rivers almost as much as he loved fish. His ultimate dream came true when Ann Putnam gave him the opportunity to own a trout farm on the outskirts of Durango. In homage to the farm's original owners, the Lyman family, he named it Rainbow Springs Vet and Phish. Under his care, the trout farm became a flourishing business once again, stocking lakes throughout the Four Corners area and beyond.

In 2013, Pat married Chandler Strange and thereafter the farm flourished beyond fish; they cultivated fresh flowers, vegetables, and farm-fresh eggs. Not only did their farm flourish, but so did their family with the birth of their children, Henry and Ella, the greatest joys of their lives.

Pat had a magnetic personality, a gift for gab, a story for every occasion, big dreams, and an even bigger heart. Beneath the scientist and veterinarian was a man of tremendous compassion, who gave generously of himself to both people and animals. He was the veterinarian at the La Plata County Humane Society and regularly volunteered his veterinary services to RezDawg Rescue and other animal welfare organizations. Pat also dedicated his time to the community’s youth as a beloved swimming instructor with the Durango Swim club.

He is survived by his wife, Chandler Strange; his son, Henry Fisher Goddard; his daughter, Ella Lee Wynter Goddard; his parents, Lee and Barbara Goddard; his siblings, Michael (Tricia), Jeffrey (Royce), Tracy (Mot), and Daniel (Paige) Goddard; and his nieces and nephews, Haley (James) Petzke, Nathan, Bridget, Natalie, and Loren Goddard, Gemma (Charles) Morris, and Jak and Anda Phetsrithong.

A celebration of Pat's life will be held on November 7, 2026 at Rainbow Springs Trout Ranch. Additional details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to RezDawg Rescue (https://rezdawgrescue.org/donate/).