Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Lawrence R. Paul, age 88, of Grasmere, a Mohawk Indian and retired iron worker, died Friday, January 15, 2010 in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.

Born on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation in Hogansburg, N.Y., the son of Margaret Fisher and Andrew Paul. Mr. Paul was proud of his Native American heritage as a member of the Akwesasne Tribe.

After growing up on the reservation, Mr. Paul moved to Brooklyn as a young man. He relocated to Meiers Corners in 1956 and to Grasmere in 1995.

Mr. Paul was a steel worker for 40 years as a member of Iron Workers Local 40, working throughout the city.

For 25 years, Mr. Paul coached in the Mid-Island Little League and Mid-Island Babe Ruth League. He also coached CYO basketball for 20 years at St. Rita’s R.C. Church, Meiers Corners, where he was a parishioner.

Fond of charitable work, he lent his time as a volunteer at the former Bayley Seton Hospital, Clifton, and what is now Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton.

A World War II veteran, Mr. Paul served with the U.S. Air Force.

His wife of 35 years, the former LaVonne Gillespie, died in 1995.

He is survived by his son, Jeffrey; two daughters, Ann Pamela Rinn and Suzanne El-Gamil; six grandchildren: Cherished grandfather of Courtney, Kirstin, Matthew, Jonathan, Emily and Rachele, by six great-grandchildren, and his companion, Cecila Brennan. Also fond uncle of Greg Fisher.

Funeral services were held in St. Rita’s Church, with burial in the Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains, NY.

Arrangements were handled by Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, NY.