(Marblehead, MA)- For many J/Sailors and friends in the New England area, we offer our
“best wishes” & condolences to those who knew Paul deNapoli well.
A life-long sailor from Marblehead, MA, Paul passed away in his sleep
on 15 February, 2014 due to complications from Alzheimer's, at the age
of 89. Beloved husband of the late Phyllis C. deNapoli, and the late
Katherine V. deNapoli, Paul leaves behind his son Paul (“Fred”)
deNapoli, his daughter Dyan deNapoli, his sister Ann Regan, his loving
companion Ann Hawthorn-Bouras, along with dozens of nieces and nephews. A
veteran of World War II, Paul served in an Army Air Force Combat Cargo
unit operating in India and Burma, maintaining aircraft flying over the
infamous “hump” of the Himalayan Mountains. He graduated from
Northeastern in engineering and quickly rose to prominence, being
promoted to chief engineer at Hayden Harding & Buchanan at a very
young age. He went on to found Costello Lamasney & deNapoli in
Manchester, N.H., where he collected several Engineering Achievement of
the Year Awards. Outside of work, Paul was an accomplished sailor with an extensive resume of both blue water and one design racing. He was instrumental in the founding of Marblehead’s Ensign, Soling, and Etchells classes, very nearly winning the J/30 North American championships, raced to Bermuda and Halifax, worked as a professional instructor for both Colgate and J/World sailing schools, coached blind sailors at the Courageous Sailing Center in Charlestown, taught celestial navigation at local community colleges, and served as Commodore of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead.
Paul was an equally accomplished skier. He cut his teeth on Cannon Mountain, working as a volunteer running races on the Taft Trail in the late 30’s. He went on to ski most areas in New England as well as Colorado, Utah, and Switzerland, turning the boards until he was well into his 80’s. A memorial service will be conducted at the Old North Church, Washington Street, Marblehead, at 1pm on Sunday, 16 March, followed by a reception at the Boston Yacht Club, Front Street, Marblehead.
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