Introduction
A Love Story That Lasted a Lifetime
Engelbert met Patricia Healey in the late 1950s, long before the world knew his name. He was a struggling singer then, still performing under his birth name, Arnold George Dorsey. She was radiant, smart, and kind — drawn to his charm but grounded enough to see the man behind the ambition.
They married in 1964, before his breakthrough hit “Release Me” turned him into an international star. Through the whirlwind of fame — sold-out tours, screaming crowds, and chart-topping success — Patricia remained his constant, his anchor.
“She kept me real,” Engelbert once said. “When the world wanted the star, she wanted the man.”
Their marriage, like all long unions, weathered its share of challenges. Fame brought temptation, time apart, and the relentless demands of performance. Yet somehow, through it all, they found their way back to each other — again and again.
“She was my balance,” he said. “When I walked on stage, she gave me courage. When I came home, she gave me peace.”
The Long Goodbye
In 2007, Patricia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a cruel condition that slowly steals memory, language, and independence. Engelbert cared for her with quiet devotion, rearranging his career to spend as much time by her side as possible.
He often spoke of the small rituals they shared — playing music, holding hands, praying together. “I sang to her every night,” he said. “Even when she could no longer respond, I knew she could hear me. Her eyes still lit up when I sang.”
As the illness progressed, Engelbert’s songs became less about fame and more about faith. He prayed openly for her healing, often telling fans, “I believe in miracles.” And in many ways, he says, those miracles did happen — in moments of clarity, in glimpses of the woman he had always loved.
“Sometimes she would smile at me,” he remembered. “Just a little smile. But it meant everything.”