We lost our Paul on Sunday, October 25th. He died at home, facing the Blue Ridge foothills, in peace.
His accomplishments include co-writing William Manchester’s “Defender of the Realm: Winston Spencer Churchill, 1940-1965,” which became a NYTimes bestseller. He won multiple awards as a feature writer and restaurant reviewer for the Palm Beach Post – pieces about Vancomycin, the Iraq War, Ted Williams the ballplayer, William Manchester the writer, Curt Gowdy the sports announcer, Daniel Boulud the restaurateur. He drove to New York City on September 11 to cover the attacks.
Some of his fondest memories….Taking a cross-country train to Montana with his youngest son Patrick to visit Roger Donald, William Manchester’s editor
Riding along the coast of Ireland on Connemara ponies with his daughter Mary. Walking among the standing stones in Scotland with Georgia, his oldest. Spending holidays and summer vacations with his son Alex, whose presence made every visit a celebration of home and family. Pool volleyball. Road trips on the Blue Ridge Parkway. After hours at LaSirena. Della’s wine shop (The Tryon Bottle). Playing and listening to Bluegrass. His lifelong loyalty to his hometown team, the Boston Red Sox.
He loved food – good food. His favorites were Marcello’s Beef Wellington, his wife Barbara’s gorgonzola pasta, and her shrimp and grits. Catsmo smoked salmon on a bagel. Bojangles’ chicken sandwich. Elmo’s cheeseburger. Almost anyone’s egg and sausage biscuit. Italian subs. Mrs. Reppucci’s meatballs. Lobster with drawn butter. Oysters.
Usually accompanied by an Italian red in the evening.
His dogs – he adored them all: Fritzi, Rosie, Pepper, Ginger, Daisy, and Boy.
We will miss him. He was a good man – honest and true.