WENDLER Paul Grafton, teacher, 82, of Roslindale died Friday, May 13, after a brief illness, surrounded by family.
Mr. Wendler was born in Allston to Henry Wendler of Clinton and Barbara Higgins of Provincetown. Mr. Wendler graduated from Brighton High School and served his nation in the Marine Corps during World War II, before attending Texas Western (now the University of Texas at El Paso) on a football scholarship. After his graduation, he returned to Boston and earned a Master's Degree in education from Boston State. He followed in his father's footsteps as a teacher and taught at Walpole High School for 36 years.
Mr. Wendler was a lifelong fan of physical culture, and found time for coaching and refereeing basketball, both at the high school and college level, and in 1982 he was the recipient of an honorary lifetime membership in the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials. He was also an avid fisherman and jogger. Born with a gift for music, he enjoyed playing the piano well into his retirement. Summers always included a stay in Provincetown's Mayflower Heights, where his mother was born and where the summers of his youth were spent.
He is survived by his wife Ann Marie, of Roslindale, brother Henry, of Rolling Hills Estates, California and five of his children: Susan MacInnis, of Roslindale, Pamela Beechinor, of North Andover, Christine Wendler of Malden, Richard Wendler of Dedham and Peter Wendler of Waltham. Additionally, Mr. Wendler is survived by nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Elanor. He is predeceased by his son, Paul, junior.
Funeral from the P.E. Murray-George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home 2000 Centre St. WEST ROXBURY Monday at 9AM. Funeral Mass in St. John Chrysostom Church, West Roxbury at 10AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Sunday from 4-8PM. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472) or to Rogerson Communities Dementia Day Program (1 Florence Street, Boston, MA 02131).