I first met Don Patterson in the mid 1970s when the Pattersons were part of a team preparing and serving meals for street people at the Benedict Labre House where I was director. Through the years we kept contact up till the present day. Along with the family, Donald has always had a deep commitment to social justice, the environment and peace, this in spite of a severe cerebral handicap which he suffered several years ago. One of his interests is support for the Palestinians. One incident touched me deeply. Several years after his stroke he gave me a book, the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, by Elan Pappe based on archival material which the Israel government was obligated to release by law.. Since he could not communicate to me what the book was all about it was left to myself to find out. Although I had long supported the cause the book gave me a much sharper focus on the issue for which I am truly grateful.