Patrick Henry Egan, who founded a ship-cleaning and cargo-lashing business, died Saturday of complications of cancer at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. He was 88 and lived in Timonium.
Until he retired in 1988, he ran Egan Marine Contracting Co., a South Baltimore firm that cleaned and painted ships and secured cargoes loaded in Baltimore.
The 77-foot-long section of the Baltimore waterfront he owned, located alongside the Domino Sugar Corp. plant, is the winter home of the Pride of Baltimore II.
"He was an individualist who wanted to own his own business," said former U.S. Rep. Helen D. Bentley. "At the time that Pat got started, a single person could have his own business on the harbor and be successful."
Born in Pottsville, Pa., where he was educated, Mr. Egan moved to Baltimore in 1942 and answered a help-wanted ad at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard yard. He signed on as a time-keeper and soon learned ship maintenance, maritime painting, boiler cleaning and cargo lashing.
A tall man, he overcame the loss of his right arm, which was severed in a fight during his youth.
"My father was physically very strong," said his son James K. Egan of Timonium. "His left hand had more power than people with two hands."
In the 1950s, Mr. Egan joined Dawe Contracting Co., which he bought in 1962. Its waterfront property became the basis of the business he owned and ran until his retirement.
"He was a well-respected voice of experience on the waterfront," said Maurice Byan, president of the Steamship Trade Association. "He loved Baltimore and was enthusiastic about the port."
Mr. Egan was a former board member of the Steamship Trade Association and sat on its trade practice committee.
He had belonged to the Merchants Club and the Knights of Columbus.
In 1937, he married the former Helen McCann, who survives him.
For 43 years, Mr. Egan was a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 100 Church Lane, Texas, where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by three other sons, Joseph P. Egan of Arnold, Martin J. Egan of Glen Burnie and Michael F. Egan of Timonium; two daughters, Kathleen Cornell of Hunt Valley and Susan Egan of Timonium; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
