Pat Laverty enjoyed a successful career in nuclear medicine, but he always dreamed of releasing his own original music. Although liver cancer claimed his life on November 11, 2023, Pat leaves a final message through his album, Pony Rides. The collection offers nostalgic moments, lessons learned, love lost, and a lasting legacy for his beloved family. Music was the most profound vehicle he ever found for sharing his life story—his love story.

Produced by Shantih Haast at Studio 770 in Brea, California, Pony Rides is a diverse collection of eight songs written by Pat over the course of his life. From his earliest track, “Younger Daze,” written in 1981, to his last, “Zoe,” written in 2020, each song explores a unique moment in his life, with distinct production approaches highlighting each piece.

Pat Laverty was born on May 3, 1955, in Dumbarton, Scotland. In 1964, he immigrated to the United States with his parents and his sister, Rae, following his father’s belief that greater opportunities lay ahead for the family. In 1967, Pat received a drum set for Christmas, sparking his love of music. During high school, he formed a band with classmates Mike Cressy and Dave Green, performing at local parties and events. Pat served as their lead singer and a prolific lyricist. When Dave taught him to play guitar, Pat found a new freedom of expression. Influenced by The Beatles (particularly Paul McCartney) and Peter Frampton, he naturally took to entertaining—comfortable in front of cameras and crowds, and easily stepping into leadership roles. Yet no matter where life took him, music was never far behind.

Pat’s family began their new life in New York, then moved to Detroit, Michigan—“motor city,” the automobile capital of the world—where they settled in St. Clair Shores in 1968. During the summers of his junior and senior year of high school, Pat worked for his uncle’s painting company. His leadership skills became evident when, at 19, he was tasked with supervising a crew painting the World Trade Center. After graduating high school in 1973, he joined Grossel Tool Company in Warren, MI, then attended Ferris State University from 1974–1977, majoring in Nuclear Medicine Technology. He worked as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist in Oklahoma and at Omni Medical in California. By 1988, his experience in the medical field and compassion for patients led him to identify areas for growth in nuclear medicine. With that vision, he founded Modern Nuclear, Inc., now based in La Habra, California.

A forward thinker, Pat oversaw Modern Nuclear’s purchase of the first SPECT mobile unit in California in 1992. A SPECT machine takes internal images of the body and transmits them to a computer for detailed 3D images. He continued pushing boundaries with the introduction of the first mobile Rubidium PET system, which provides more accurate diagnostic imaging and significantly reduces patients’ exposure to radiation. Pat collaborated with the Department of Transportation to prove that a mobile PET unit could be both safe and effective. His pioneering work helped spark an entire industry, born from his determination to make high-quality nuclear imaging widely accessible.

Pat’s innovations didn’t end there. He also delved into creating a gamma microscope capable of viewing DNA in unprecedented detail, hoping to pinpoint the causes of genetic mutations leading to cancer. Unfortunately, he could not complete the project due to the lack of technology necessary for early cancer detection at that time. Still, Pat’s innovations prolonged countless lives, making diagnosis more efficient and accurate. With a bit more time, his gamma microscope could have revolutionized modern medicine.

Today, Pat’s son, Patrick II, follows in his father’s footsteps at Modern Nuclear, supported by his siblings, Brian and Suzi, and their mother, Vicki. They strive to fulfill Pat’s dream of sharing his music with the world. Pat was a fun-loving man who gave everything he had to those he loved and to the causes he believed in. His family hopes Pony Rides will find an audience that resonates with Pat’s musical legacy. In every note, listeners can hear the gentle love he brought to the world.