Paul V. Sulda, Jr.

Hadley, Massachusetts
Paul Vincent “Coach” Sulda, Jr., 79, a resident of the Genesis Elaine Center at Hadley, 20 North Maple Street, died Wednesday afternoon, March 29, 2017 following a period of declining health.
A native of Montague, MA, he was born on August 13, 1937 to Nellie G. (Tranowski) Sulda and Paul V. Sulda, Sr., and was educated in Montague Public Schools.  A graduate of Turners Falls High School in the Class of 1955, he was a three letter varsity athlete in basketball, football and baseball.  Paul enlisted in the USN on August 10, 1955 just prior to his eighteenth birthday and served honorably during the Vietnam Conflict with the First Naval District, Boston, MA and the US Naval Schools Command, Newport, RI and attained the rate of Training Deviceman 2^nd Class.  He was honorably discharged on July 18, 1958.
Upon his return to civilian life, he attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA and received his BS in Mathematics, graduating in the Class of 1962.  Following his graduation from college, Paul accepted a teaching position with the Athol Public School System, Athol, MA, where he was a mathematics teacher for several years. He taught in the middle school and was for a period of time, the Principal of the River Bend School.  He was also an assistant football coach for the varsity football team for several years.
Paul was an avid fan of the NY football Giants, as well as the NE Patriots, NCAA college football, golf and was for many years a member of the Ellinwood Golf Club in Athol, MA.  A harness and horse racing enthusiast, Paul was a frequent visitor to the former Hinsdale Rack Track in Hinsdale, NH.  He was a member of the St. Kazimer’s Society in Turners Falls, MA and was a member of the shuffle board league for many years.  Paul was a member of a group of fellow sports boosters who were known as the “Sideline Squires” from Athol, who were regulars at the many of the AHS sporting events. 
Paul never married, however he leaves a legion of his former students and colleagues from his teaching career to remember him with affection.  Additionally, Paul is survived by his siblings: Robert “Bob” Sulda and his wife Charleen and Susan and Brian SanSoucie of Turners Falls, MA, as well as their children, Paul’s cherished nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Nellie and Paul Sulda and by his brother Francis and his wife Rose Marie Sulda. 
In keeping with Paul’s request for simplicity, services will be private and at the convenience of family following cremation.  Visiting hours and formal services are omitted.  Private rites of committal and inurnment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Turners Falls, MA in the Sulda family lot.  Rev. Fr. Stanley J. Aksamit, Pastor of Our Lady of Peace will preside.  Military honors will be observed with a detachment of the USN in attendance, assisted by the Hale-Clapp VFW Post #3295 of South Deerfield, MA providing a firing detail. Expressions of affection in the form of a charitable contribution in Paul’s memory, are suggested in lieu of flowers to the Athol Sports Boosters Association, Attn:  Mr. Gene Ferrari, c/o Athol High School, 2363 Main Street, Athol, MA 01331 or to the Turners Falls Athletic Club, P.O. Box 11, Turners Falls, MA 01376.
 

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