Paul Theodore Nahass recently of Lynchburg, Va., and a longtime resident of Wellesley, passed away on July 4, 2008. According to his family, it was fitting that he did so on Independence Day for he loved his country and served it well with the allied forces in World War II.
Born on Nov. 28, 1916, in Roxbury, he was the son of Badia Homsey Nahass and Adolph Nahass. He spent most of his life in Wellesley where he excelled as a football player on the high school team. After high school, Paul wanted to become an Air Force pilot. The United States Air Force would not accept him without a college degree, so he went to Canada to pursue his dream. In 1940, Paul enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator/bombardier. He was eventually promoted to Flying Officer.
In WW II he took part in 37 of the great bombing raids over Germany, North Africa and the Middle East. He returned to the states following the death of his brother, Edward. He spent the remainder of his service time as an instructor at one of the Canadian air schools. This is where he met his future wife, Mae, on a blind date.
Mae and Paul dated for four months and were married on September 3, 1943. They had been married for 64 years. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who will be missed tremendously by all of those who loved him. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mae; five children, his son Edward and wife Kathi of New Boston, N.H., his son James and Sue Teeple of Amherst, N.H., his son Paul and Kathi of Norwood, his daughter Patricia Gleason and William Van Dyke of Lynchburg, his son Peter and wife Pam of Millis; and 10 grandchildren, Michael and wife Lara, Zachary, Andy, Peter, Brad, Ben, Jessica, Eddie, Alexandra and Scott; and two sisters, Mariam Hamwey of Wellesley and Diana Tapley of College Station, Texas. He was predeceased by his brothers, Edward and Robert.
Visiting hours will be held in the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., Wellelsey, on Wednesday, July 23, from 4-7 PM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Funeral services are private. A private interment service will be held Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored with donations in Mr. Nahass’ name to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, P.O. Box 630342, Baltimore, MD 21263-0342 or United Cerebral Palsey, 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036.