Paul F. J. McAlduff died, after a long illness, comfortably in his home with family members on September 23rd. He was the beloved husband of Linda M.(Rapoza Renaud) McAlduff. He is survived by his sons, Paul S. McAlduff, his wife Sunhwa Rhee and their daughter Sarah Yuri living in South Korea and Kenneth E. Renaud II and his wife Rachel, previously from Plymouth. He is predeceased by his daughter Dawn Daley of Plympton, whose family members include her husband Peter Daley and their two sons, Justin and Michael. Other family members include Paul’s sister, Roberta Medal and her deceased husband Hector, formerly of Kingston, and the late Chester (Sonny) McAlduff of Dorchester. Paul is also survived by many nieces, nephews from three generations.
Mr. Paul McAlduff was the son of the late Chester and Margaret (Brehm) McAlduff. He was educated in Boston Public Schools and Christopher Columbus High School under the tutelage of the Jesuit priests. He continued his education in California and Florida while working various jobs to support his young family. Returning to Massachusetts, Paul began his career as a truck driver, first locally with companies such as Stop & Shop and Marshall’s, then cross country under his own business of Acme Trucking. He was a proud member of Teamsters Local 25 and participated in many statewide rallies. His national highlight was a trip to Washington D.C.to rally with unions across the country in opposition to the NAFTA treaty. Paul also photographed this event for Local 25, as well as many others.
Photography was one of Mr. McAlduff’s passions since he was a teenager, mastering many cameras throughout his lifetime. His personal art photography usually centered around nature and antique or crumbling structures. His volunteer photography encompassed so many events in Plymouth and the surrounding areas over the last 25 years. You may have seen him sitting on the side of the road during Plymouth’s Thanksgiving Day Parades. His professional photography began when he and his wife Linda created their marketing business, Brite I. Deers, and his photography business, Paul McAlduff Photography. Paul and Linda were hired by Atlantic Communications Group from Flourtown, Pennsylvania to work on various Chamber of Commerce directories throughout Massachusetts, including the Plymouth Area Chamber for a number of years. Paul McAlduff Photography recently focused on municipal and school building construction throughout the state required for LEED certification.
In addition to photography, Paul F. J. McAlduff’s hometown of Plymouth was a great passion. He dedicated over 20 years of endless volunteer service to the town including: Plymouth Planning Board, 20 years, Plymouth Building and Construction Committee, Community Preservation Committee, Cedarville Steering Committee, and Town Meeting Representative. People that knew Paul realized that he cared deeply about Plymouth and worked hard to make it a better place to live, work, and play. As an inherited member of the Boston Catholic Cemetery Association, Paul learned the value of a crematory for Plymouth’s revenue stream. Mr. McAlduff was the key figure instrumental in the construction of the Plymouth crematory. Also, a highlight of his political passion was the positive Proposition 2 ½ override vote to construct two new high schools and the Center for Active Living. Paul and Linda, then chair of the Plymouth School Committee, and countless others volunteered their time and energy and worked tirelessly holding signs, getting signatures and convincing people all three facilities would improve education and quality of life in the town of Plymouth.
Lastly, Paul McAlduff cared deeply about people, animals and nature. His good, larger-than- life friend and cohort, Jeffrey Luce recruited Paul to serve on the Cape Cod and Islands March of Dimes Board of Directors and help fundraise for the National Marine Life Center. With his role with the March of Dimes, Paul worked with town and state officials to light up the Plymouth Rock portical in pink and blue for premature birth awareness. What a sight to see! For the National Marine Life Center annual fundraiser, The Mermaid Ball, both Jeff Luce and Paul dressed up as pirates, with Jeff as Captain Morgan and Paul as Blackbeard. What a pair of heartfelt houligans! And finally, his love for animals is evident in his long standing dedication to Gayle Fitzpatrick and the Friends of the Plymouth Pound. His commitment to the dogs and cats in need of homes, shelter and medical care spanned over 25 years. You would see Paul every year at the Annual Walk for the Animals organizing and cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. A feat never to be repeated was his design and construction of the FPP Wizard of Oz themed float “There’s No Place Like Home” in one of the first Thanksgiving Day Parades. Of course, Paul had to be the Wiz.
Visiting hours in the Cartmell-Davis Life Celebration Funeral Home 619 State Rd. Plymouth (Manomet) on Sunday, October 2nd, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. Funeral mass will be held Monday, 10/3, 10 am at St. Bonaventure’s Church, Plymouth (Manomet). Memorial donations in Paul McAlduff’s name can be made to: Friends of the Plymouth Pound, P.O. Box 578, Manomet, MA 02345 or go online to friendsplymouthpound.org.