Paul D. O’Riordan

Paul D. O’Riordan, 70, of Hull, MA. took his final plunge on 1/31/2017.

Born in Jamaica Plain, MA,  he was the son of the late Edmund O’Riordan and Anne (Bohan) Guidera.   He is survived by his fur babies, Dudley & Yellar, as well as his sisters, Melikka Perron of Manchester, NH and Megan O’Riordan (Ferullo) of Hull, MA (previously of Wilder, VT).   Paul is also survived by his nephew Jeffrey Gaeta of Concord, NH and his wife Joanna, his niece Jeweli Gaeta of Manchester, NH, his nephew Kyle Ferullo of Pembroke, MA  for whom he also relished the role of “Godfather” in so many different ways,  and his great nephew, Kaimani Gaeta of Manchester, NH., who lovingly  dubbed him, “Uncle Older Than Dirt”.

He was a Vietnam Army Veteran who served with the 101st Airborne Division and was the recipient of a Bronze Star in 1968 for Meritorious Service. 

Paul was educated in the School of Hard Knocks. His education encompassed many areas of study which included Famous Artist, Art School and Steam Engineering.   When he enrolled in school to become a pipefitter he was the oldest student in his class, of which he was quite proud.  (He believed he was a physical marvel)  He graduated from pipefitter’s school at the age of 42 and joined the Pipefitters Local Union # 537.   He worked on the largest projects in the Boston area including the Logan Airport expansion and the “Big Dig”.  

After his retirement in 2011, he decided that the sea was calling him and joined the fleet of the Boston Harbor Cruises as a deck hand.   A song written for him 40 years ago foretold of this calling.  “He is happy as a lark, because he is not afraid of sharks, he is Paul O’ Riordan”.   He enjoyed meeting all the new people and watching the ocean change. He shared his photos of the beautiful sunsets and risings on his journeys with his Facebook followers.   On his days off you could always find Paul on Gunrock Beach, in his chair, with a book in hand.  

Paul was extremely active in his home group of AA, Scituate Centre.  He also completed decades of work with Central Services, manning the phones every Monday night in service to AA.  He was a firm believer that “Service is Gratitude in Action”.  He met with the group several times a week and would journey with them to commitments in other towns.  He truly felt that these people were his extended family.

As well as his love for books, he had a love of fishing and a hankering for birds, flowers and well, basically nature in general.  He was a rabid fan of the Red Sox and Patriots long before it was fashionable.  (And they broke his heart many times) The Patriots win this year was just for him.  Paul was a hardworking man, loyal, funny, kind, gentle, and respectful and truly a man of integrity.  “He is not gone, but temporarily out of our sight. 

Calling hours will be held at Pyne Keohane, 21 Emerald Street, Hingham, MA 02043, Saturday February 4th, 2017, from Noon to 4pm.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that friend make donations to NVNA and Hospice, 120 Longwater Drive, Norwell, MA 02061.