Goodbye, Paul
We said goodbye to Paul January 5, 2025. He passed away peacefully in his sleep. You can read his obituary at Lary Funeral Home.
We will remember Paul, Dad, Papa …. for his love of Maine.
He adored Maine, from the sanctuary of wilderness, to the crisp winters and frozen lakes. He loved people. His family, small and close-knit schools and towns, and coastal vacation spots where he worked as a swim instructor. He joined the Navy after graduating Milo High School and traveled around the world, then returned to Maine to continue his education. Because Maine had everything he loved.
We will remember him for his love of sailing.
He was enchanted by ships large and small, the craft, the engineering, and the builders. He was called to water, as a swimmer, sailor, and traveler. He loved the quiet solitude of Ebeemee Lake deep in the Maine woods, and the endless possibilities of an ocean to cross.
We will remember him for his love of music.
His ability to listen to a song and repeat it on the piano, a gift passed down from his mother, Pauline. He picked up the flute to learn alongside Beth, and could strum a few tunes on a ukulele, humming along, just for fun. He loved instrumental music that spanned genres, and he appreciated the mastery that came from a lifetime of practice.
We will remember him for his love of learning.
His dedication to higher education, as a student, teacher and administrator left an indelible mark.
We have always been inspired by his joyful curiosity and drive to understand our natural world, economics, politics—and late in life—health and support for veterans. And if he learned something clever, he couldn’t wait to share it with everyone.
We will remember Paul for his love of writing.
His legacy is his stories—born from his extraordinary life and imagination. It is a singular gift to read a parent’s journal, discover their art, or gain insight into how their mind works and their unique lived experience.
We will remember him for his love of craft and craftsmanship.
He always had a project underway and six more ideas unfolding in his mind …. Or drafted on paper, or his computer. He simply itched to build and create what appeared in his mind. He enjoyed watching and learning about boat building, and he produced many meticulously built model airplanes, boats, and woodpiles. Mementoes we will cherish and pass to our children.
We will remember him for his empathy.
He was endlessly kind and always ready with a story or thoughtful question, and a grin. He delighted in meeting new people. He could strike up a conversation with anyone … and had a knack for crossing paths with people you read about in history books. He loved to travel around the country and visit friends and family, and he held all his grandchildren as infants. Even with physical limitations later in life, he continued to reach out to family members by email and phone, to maintain small but vital connections to people he valued and loved.
We will remember his cheerful chuckle and lopsided smile, his kind and encouraging words, soft Maine lilt, and his strong hugs.
His kindness and compassion made the world a better place, and we are so grateful to have known him, and to now remember him always. He yearned to be laid to rest with Pauline, Wilson, and his Maine family.
Rest in peace, Dad. We love you, now and always.
While Paul has passed on, this may not be the last post on this site. We continue to uncover new stories and will share them as we can.