A year after his death, tributes continue to pour in for TobyMac Diverse City member Gabe Patillo.
Patillo, a multi-talented man who, by age ten, was dancing onstage alongside DC Talk, passed away following a battle with pancreatic cancer in April 2024.
"One year without the best man I’ve ever known," said TobyMac in a post on Instagram. "An amazing husband, father, friend, and bandmate. He always had time for everyone cause love was his playground. He was wise and loyal. He was a protector and defender of “right” and, most of all, a deep follower of Jesus. Miss you so bad, Gabe Patillo."
Terrian, who was also a part of the TobyMac Diverse City team, took to social media to share how deeply Gabe is missed.
"One year ago, we lost our brother and friend, Gabe," said Terrian. "We miss him deeply. Losing him was earth-shattering. He was a bright light, very grounded, full of integrity, filled with hope in the Lord, and an amazing husband and father. We’re all doing our best to follow in his giant footsteps, which simply means to keep following, seeking, and considering God no matter what, in all things. That’s what Gabe modeled. That’s who he was. We are grateful for the gift of his friendship."
Meanwhile, Gabe's mother shared her last photo with her son.
"Thank you all for your prayers and kindness to Jenni Patillo, my Grandchildren, Marcel and me. We've been living on your prayers," said Jackie. "Gabriel will be forever remembered by the joy he spread and the faith in God he carried to the end."
A running team in Arkansas, who called themselves Team TobyMac-Run for Hope, spent three years, from 2016-2019, raising funds for a Christian-based school in Franklin, Tennesse that saved 50 percent of its seats for kids below or at the poverty line. This year they plan to reunite to raise funds for scholarships for Gabe's children.
"Gabe was an awesome man of God! Toby’s best friend and right-hand man on stage," said Angela Welker Housley. "He always had a smile on his face. He is terribly missed, and we want to help raise scholarship money for his kids."
The team will leave for Nashville in two weeks and is asking anyone who feels God has laid it on their heart to donate.
Patillo left behind his wife and three children. He also left to mourn him, his brother, mother and father.