DEERFIELD BEACH, FL: Paul E. Sawyer, 53, formerly of Gloucester, died August 30, 2011 at the Hospice by the Sea in Boca Raton, Florida following a long battle with cancer.
Born in Beverly on August 13, 1958, he was the son of Everett and Cynthia (Carroll) Sawyer. He had attended Gloucester public schools and was employed for many years as a stevedore along the Gloucester waterfront.
For the past fifteen years, Paul has been a resident of Florida. He was employed as a shipping agent for Costume World in Florida. A lifelong hockey fan, he followed the Gloucester High School and Boston College Hockey teams as well as the Boston Bruins. He also played on the first East Gloucester Pee Wee Hockey team as a child.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Lisa and Timothy Redmond; a brother and sister-in-law, Everett and Jenice Sawyer, a nephew, Ryan Redmond, and a niece, Hayley Sawyer and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He also leaves behind his longtime companion, Judi Zarr, and a host of extended family members, including his dear friend and employer, Marilynn Wick and co-workers in Florida, who recently celebrated his life on Deerfield Beach. In honor of his Irish heritage, of which he was very proud, the services were concluded with a corn beef and cabbage dinner at the Wick home.
His funeral service will be held on Wednesday morning in the Calvary Cemetery at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester on Tuesday from 5 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his memory to The Home for Little Wanderers, Development Dept., 271 Huntington Avenue, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02115 (www.thehome.org) or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Program, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905 (www.stjude.org).