Editing Patrick Volkerding (section)

==Personal life==
Volkerding earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] in [[computer science]] from [[Minnesota State University Moorhead]] in 1993.<ref>[http://www.linuxscrew.com/2009/04/02/faces-behind-linux-part-1/ Faces behind Linux — Part #1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611055234/http://www.linuxscrew.com/2009/04/02/faces-behind-linux-part-1/ |date=2018-06-11 }}, By Artem Nosulchik, April 2, 2009, LinuxScrew: Linux Blog</ref> Volkerding is a [[Deadhead]], and by April 1994 had already attended 75 [[Grateful Dead]] concerts.<ref name="linuxjournal">[http://linuxjournal.com/article/2750 Interview with Patrick Volkerding]</ref>

Volkerding is a [[Church of the SubGenius]] affiliate/member. The use of the word ''slack'' in "Slackware" is an homage to [[J. R. "Bob" Dobbs]]. About the SubGenius influence on Slackware, Volkerding has stated: "I'll admit that it was SubGenius inspired. In fact, back in the 2.0 through 3.0 days we used to print a dobbshead on each CD."<ref>[http://slashdot.org/interviews/00/03/17/1120205.shtml Slashdot | Replies from Slackware Founder Patrick Volkerding]</ref>

Volkerding is an avid [[homebrewing|homebrewer]] and [[beer]] lover.<ref name="linuxjournal"/> Early versions of Slackware would entreat users to send him a bottle of local beer in appreciation for his work.

Volkerding was married in 2001 to Andrea and has a daughter Briah Cecilia Volkerding (b. 2005).<ref name=donate2018 /><ref name=distro2002 /><ref name=a2018 />

===Illness===
In 2004, Volkerding announced via mailing list post that he was suffering from [[actinomycosis]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Volkerding|first1=Patrick|title=Last post?|url=http://slackware.osuosl.org/slackware-current/PAT-NEEDS-YOUR-HELP.txt|website=slackware.osuosl.org|access-date=7 October 2017|ref=PAT-NEEDS-YOUR-HELP|date=18 November 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041118015127/http://slackware.osuosl.org/slackware-current/PAT-NEEDS-YOUR-HELP.txt|archive-date=18 November 2004}}</ref> a serious illness requiring multiple rounds of [[antibiotics]] and with an uncertain prognosis.  This announcement caused a number of tech news outlets to wonder about the future of the Slackware project.<ref>{{cite web|title=Patrick Volkerding battles mystery illness|url=https://science.slashdot.org/story/04/11/16/1846207/patrick-volkerding-battles-mystery-illness|website=Slashdot|date=16 November 2004 |access-date=7 October 2017|ref=slashdot-illness}}</ref>  As of 2012, both Volkerding and the Slackware project were reported to be in a healthy state again.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Varghese|first1=Sam|title=Slackware is alive and kicking: Volkerding|url=https://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/54538-slackware-is-alive-and-kicking-volkerding|access-date=7 October 2017|work=www.itwire.com|publisher=iTWire|date=7 May 2012|ref=itwire-volkerding|language=en-gb}}</ref>