Obituary of Paul E. Cormier

"Palmer, MA – Paul E. Cormier's ship slipped quietly from the dock at first light on July 25, 2009, leaving behind the fog and dark sea of memory loss. Paul was born June 20, 1920 in Waltham, MA, the only child of Edward and Blanche (Sylvestre) Cormier. He lived with his aunt, Yvonne Sylvestre, in Gardner, MA until moving to NYC to attend academically renowned Stuyvesant H.S. Eager to fight Fascism in Europe, he joined the U.S. Merchant Marine and shipped out in Feb, 1941. He made many trips to England and the USSR and occasional trips to the Middle East, Cuba, Africa and South America as Chief Radio Operator on various Liberty Ships. Fluent in French, he was a frequent translator and traveled extensively. He departed NYC on VJ Day on a final UNRRA mission to Poland. He married in NYC in 1944, moved to Chicago in 1948, and began a 40 year career as an insurance investigator. He returned to Gardner in 1960 to care for his aunt and joined Standard Service Bureau, moving to Charlestown in 1970 to manage their Boston office, and retiring to Orleans, MA in 1985. He moved to Palmer in 2003 to live with his son and daughter-in-law. Paul was an avid supporter of Boston's symphony, art museums, ballet, opera, theater and library. Other passions included history, world affairs, progressive politics, literature, poetry, hiking and birding. Remaining ashore to honor his example are his children, Steven Cormier (wife, Ann) in Palmer, Linda Cormier (husband, Andy Wooten) in CA, Kathie Gersch (husband, Michael) in CO, and Dana Cormier (wife, Sharon) in Ludlow, six grandchildren, and Chukki Maines, his longtime friend. Services will be private. Memorial donations can be made to any library, arts or nature organization. Farewell, Dad. We wish you fair winds and a following sea."