Paul Smith Kohout, 86, long-time resident of Marion, MA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. Born March 17, 1930 in Huntington, Long Island, New York. Beloved son of the late Otto and Annabelle (Smith) Kohout. Paul leaves his loving wife of 59 years, Joyce Ellen (Backus) Kohout. He is also survived by his two children; son Paul Scott and his wife Joy (Derouchie) Kohout of Acton, MA and daughter Constance (Kohout) Hoksch and her husband Stephen Hoksch of Okinawa. He is further survived by his cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Shawna (Kohout) Paro and her husband, Michael Paro and their son, Noah Paro, James Kohout, his partner, Katherine Newman, and their son, Jack Kohout, Melissa (Hoksch) Thayer and her husband Josh Thayer and Ethan Hoksch. Paul enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948 and after four years of service in the Veterinary Corps he attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, where he played hockey in an intramural league. He graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After graduation, Paul joined the Carpenters’ Union and worked for Bechtel, building forms for the Snell and Eisenhower Locks in New York and subsequently went to work as a chemist at Reynolds Metals Company in Massena, NY from 1959 to 1989. Paul was an avid bowler. Paul renewed his interest in hockey and became an accomplished coach and became the Coaching Program Director of New York State. In 1980 he was the U.S. escort for the Finnish hockey team when the U.S. won gold in Lake Placid. He attended the Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (1984) and in Calgary, Canada (1988) as a representative of USA Hockey. Paul received the Walter Yaciuk Coaching Award in 1999 and is listed in the New York State Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame. Paul also was a member of the Salmon River School Board of Education, Fort Covington, NY from 1983 to 1989. Paul was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Covington, NY for many years. After his retirement in 1989, Paul moved to his retirement home in Marion, MA and engaged in his love of landscaping and gardening, helping his neighbors and friends. He also did voluntary work for the church, historical society and veterans. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and prior Post Commander of American Legion Post 1418, Fort Covington, NY.
His Funeral Service will be held on Friday, June 10th at 3 PM in St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church. Visiting hours are omitted. Interment at Elmwood Cemetery, Fort Covington, New York.