A Lifetime of Connection with AAS

By Tara Strunk

Photos courtesy of Patrick and Kay

During our recent membership drive, I had the pleasure of catching up with longtime member Patrick McGoldrick, who has been part of the AAS community since the 1980s.

Patrick and his wife, Kay, arrived in Singapore in 1981. At the time, the American community was much smaller, with organizations like AAS, AWA, AMCHAM, and the American School serving as important touchpoints for newcomers. Patrick fondly remembers attending George Washington Balls and community events, and he still has his original printed AAS membership card.

Reflecting on those early years, Patrick shared, "AAS and its sister organizations were very helpful in our journey of making Singapore home. They were part of the fabric that made our transition smoother."

His family's connection to AAS runs even deeper. Patrick's son, David, contributed to the

Association's first website as part of his Eagle Scout project. David and his fellow Scouts taught themselves HTML, built webpages, and launched these on the site. Patrick recalls a leader joking, "Why do we pay so much for our website when you Boy Scouts did it so easily?"

Stories like Patrick's remind us that AAS is more than an organization. It's a community that has helped generations of members feel at home in Singapore.