BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
A former Robinson High School and University of South Florida standout lost his battle with a rare blood disorder. He was 49 years old.
Charlie Bradley and Darryl “Cuda” Patterson had been friends since childhood. Bradley said when Patterson passed away Thursday morning he couldn’t breakdown at that moment.
“I’ve had my private moments, but when I looked at his face, I saw a calmness and I couldn’t get upset. He was finally at peace, no more pain for him. But, it’s still tough to lose someone so close to you.”
Diagnosed in 2009, Bradley had watched his friend battle the disease. It reduced him to using a wheelchair and finally he was bed-ridden. The illness is known as the POEMS Syndrome and it attacks the nerves, organs and skin.
The young men met at Booker T. Washington Middle School, where they both played basketball. The following year, they became championship playoff rivals on teams for different schools.
The two then ended up at Robinson High School, where Bradley played center and Patterson became an outstanding point guard. Their paths parted again after graduation when Patterson went to Florida College and Bradley went to the University of South Florida.
Once again, Patterson distinguished himself on the court and the team won the championship. He entered USF in his junior year, majoring in Sociology.
Bradley said during their senior year, “he surged to the all-star caliber player that he was. After USF, Patterson went back into the neighborhood and I went overseas to play.
“He got caught up in drugs and the system made an example of him. It was his first offense, but they gave him 10 years in federal prison. I admired him because he never blamed anyone for his mistakes. He was just a good person. It was losing family to me because we were together every day. If you saw one, you saw the other.”
Bradley said they remained friends and he would visit him in prison although he hated seeing Patterson like that.
After his release in 1999, George Steinbrenner hired him in the maintenance department at then Legends Field.
Bradley said Patterson show the same resilience in 2009 when he was diagnosed with the blood disorder. “Although he was going through something, he never made excuses. He was the same Cuda, the same guy.”
Patterson was admitted to Tampa General Hospital around 6 p.m., Wednesday and died Thursday morning. His friend said, “I think he just got tired.”
Funeral services for Patterson will take place on Saturday, May 25th, at 2 p.m., at the Center For Manifestation. Aikens Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.
