Paul R. McKinley 68, of Natick, died unexpectedly Thursday May 26, 2016 at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. He was the beloved husband of Lucy M (Cella) McKinley sharing 35 years of marriage.
A Natick resident for 44 years he was born in Boston the son of the late Chester and Rheta (Chipman) McKinley.
Mr. McKinley was the President of MagicFire Inc., a world leader in pyrotechnic control systems which he founded in 1997.He was an exceptional, gifted innovator who addressed difficult problems in pyrotechnics, both in performance and safety, and achieved remarkable success.
MagicFire partnered annually with many major city fireworks displays, such as Boston’s Fourth of July, several in New York City and worked with well-known theme parks including Disney World in Orlando. MagicFire’s products have been employed in prominent musically choreographed fireworks displays internationally.
Mr. McKinley was a highly respected technical and organizational advisor to the International Symposium on Fireworks Society, which organizes and executes international symposia on fireworks worldwide. Together with Lucy, Paul was an ardent supporter of the international symposia. He authored and co-authored many highly technical and often cited papers, which he presented and also published in the symposia proceedings.
He worked for Bose Corporation for 22 years and retired from Bose as the Director of Engineering Operations .He used his extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of acoustics throughout his professional careers.
Mr. McKinley was a graduate of the Berkley School of Music. He also attended Northeastern University and graduate studies at Harvard and MIT.
As a talented Jazz Pianist he began his career as a teacher at the Berkley School of Music.
Deeply committed to public service in the Town of Natick, which he loved, he was elected for three terms to the Board of Selectman (Past Chair). During his tenure on the Board he was a leader in many dynamic projects including the New Town Hall, Police and Fire Stations, Natick Library and the Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN). He also served on the Conservation Commission for 9 years, and Chair of the Town Parking Advisory Committee. He generously volunteered for numerous other groups and agencies requesting his expertise and counsel.
In addition to his wife he is survived by one daughter Lisa M Choate and her husband Bobby of Gainesville GA, one son Richard G Bostick and his wife Jessica of Hudson, two sisters Gail Anderson of East Longmeadow, Joan Wall of Woburn, one brother Mark McKinley of Freedom, NH, one grandson Scott T Prim, and many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral on Wednesday June 1st at 9:00 A.M. from the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home 4 Park Street, at Natick Common followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St Patrick's Church at 10:00 A.M. Visiting hours are Tuesday, May 31, from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M..
Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer Street Natick MA 01760.