When Patrick McGrath was seeking election in 2004 for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, he'd stubbornly insist on walking the entire route during parades. Despite sore knees, due to sports injuries, he wanted to shake hands and connect with people, said Columbus attorney Bill Creedon, a campaign volunteer at the time. "We'd have him to convince him to keep up with the parade," Creedon recalled. He also insisted on sending personal thank-you cards to every campaign donor. McGrath, a Dublin resident, died Wednesday evening of complications from COVID-19 for which he had been hospitalized for several weeks. He was 78. McGrath's connection to community extended to other areas of his life.