By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

There were crowds who turned out to see Butch Patrick (aka Eddie Munster) when he visited Geneseo on Aug. 12. Butch Patrick played Eddie Munster on “The Munsters” TV Show, and his visit to Geneseo was made possible by the efforts of Sheilah Wigant-McGee, who serves on the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce Promote Geneseo team; Claire Crawford, executive director of the Geneseo Public Library, and by Zack Sullivan, executive director of the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce.

Wigant-McGee shared how Patrick’s visit happened, including the fundraising efforts, which resulted in contributions exceeding Patrick’s fee.

“With the support of the Geneseo Public Library, I was able to apply for grants to make his visit possible,” she said. “Donations from community organization, businesses and individuals exceeded the cost of his visit and we had $1,500 left when the fees were paid.”

The decision was made to donate the remaining funds to three local charities. Checks for $500 each recently presented to Freedom House, which is headquartered in Princeton and has an outreach office in Geneseo; Foster Hope and Inspire Continuing Care.

Wigant-McGee said, “I thought it was important to choose charities in our area that are the most in need.”

She shared how Patrick’s visit to Geneseo happened. The idea surfaced at a meeting of the Chamber’s Promote Geneseo Team…”We were trying to think of something that would bring the community out during the Scarecrow Row event in Geneseo in October and we came up with ideas of bringing people from Geneseo’s past back to tell ‘scary stories’ or something,” she said. “I mentioned Butch Patrick had at one time lived in Geneseo.”

She became friends with Patrick on Face book where she saw she could post and she added, “I began by posting something about inviting him back and then I chickened out and did not send it. And the next post that popped up told how to reach him. I went to Munsters.com website and sent a message and Butch called me on the phone.”

He was not available to visit Geneseo in October for the Halloween promotion, but Wigant said Patrick said, ‘How about Halloween in August?’

Wigant-McGee said after his visit on Aug. 12, Patrick told her he is interested in making a return trip to Geneseo in August of 2024, and she added, ‘He will bring the Munster mobile with him.”

Geneseo played a part in Patrick’s youth as he lived in the community for a short time and attended St. Malachy’s Grade School.