'I don't understand why they did this': How a Cincinnati beer club saved a park - and honored a neighborhood hero

The tears started almost as soon as his name was mentioned.

It was barely 9 a.m. at a coffee shop in College Hill. A few blocks down the road, workers poured concrete at the Patrick Wolterman Memorial Park.

Patrick Wolterman was a firefighter. He died almost four years ago rushing into a burning home in Hamilton. It was a few days after Christmas, and he thought someone was inside. He fell through the first floor into the basement. 

He was 28.

In the coffee shop was a group of women who helped Patrick’s parents struggle through life after his death – even though they deny they did anything extraordinary.

When Patrick was mentioned, it felt like the room grew colder. A minute before, everyone was laughing. The women talked about what a great place College Hill was to live and passed around pictures of their grandchildren in Halloween costumes.

A next-door neighbor crumpled a tissue in her hand. A woman who once coached Patrick in volleyball – because he wanted an excuse to skip football conditioning – wiped her eyes. She said she became emotional the last time she drove by the park. 

The park hasn’t been completed yet. But it will be, thanks in part to these women at the coffee shop.

At some point, officials needed $100,000 to move forward with its construction. The park's development was seen as a key in efforts to revitalize the community. 

At that time, the park had another name. But more money was needed. Then, an idea: Name it after Patrick.

The money was raised in a week. 

“The hardest part was setting up times to meet with people,” said Tim Sexton.

In an interview with The Enquirer, Tim showed off a home-brewed beer with the name, “Old Freckled Don.” Tim is part of the College Hill Beer Club.

And so are Don and Debbie Wolterman, Patrick’s parents. Don was pictured on the front of this particular beer. He is one of the main brewers. 

Depending on who you ask, the beer club might have started as a book club for the wives and turned into something else when the guys got bored. And then there’s the coffee club that meets every Wednesday morning.

But it doesn’t matter what you call them, these are some of the people the Woltermans counted on when their life flipped upside down. After Patrick’s death, some of these friends accompanied Debbie and Don on a trip to Delaware. The group posed for a picture next to a firefighter memorial, and some wore College Hill Beer Club shirts.

Don wore a beer club hat.

Some time ago, Tim went to the Woltermans’ home and asked if it was OK to name the park after their son. The Woltermans cried. He cried. They said yes.

Patrick grew up in College Hill.

The women at the coffee shop knew him and smiled while sharing stories about his childhood. About how he used to run around the pool with the biggest grin on his face and about who he caused trouble with.

After his death, a neighbor cooked meals for the Woltermans because she worried they wouldn’t eat. She couldn’t remember how long she cooked for them.

Then, the group said they didn’t do anything special. And they certainly didn’t help the Woltermans “get through” anything – because nothing can bring Patrick back.

“Don’t make this about us,” one said. “We’re not heroes.”

Last spring, there was a meeting where officials finalized plans for the park’s memorial. At one point, Debbie started crying at the thought of how others had supported her family.

“I don’t understand why they did this,” she said.

Tim, the Beer Club aficionado, understood.

"It's because they love you."