In loving memory of
Paul Caissie

• November 20, 1933
• -
• May 11, 2019

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Paul Caissie, beloved Husband and Father passed away on May 11, 2019 from a type of Brain Cancer called Glioblastoma, 3 months to the day after it was first diagnosed on February 11^th.   He died at home, 17771 Peppard Dr., Ft. Myers Beach, FL 33931.  The passing was peaceful, among most members of his family.

Paul was born on November 20^th, 1933 in Waltham, Mass, the 2^nd born son of Désiré J. Caissie and Anna B. LeBlanc Caissie.  He was very proud of being a 1^st Generation American, who was descended from some of the original French Acadians who settled in Nova Scotia, Canada in the 1600’s.  Paul’s siblings included his older brother, Leo, his younger sister Roseanna, who was born on the same day as Paul, but three years later.  He joked that his parents tried to pass her off as his 3^rd Birthday present, but he wasn’t buying it!  A second brother, David, was born a few years later, and was joined by a Foster brother, Edwin Duvall.  David is since deceased.

Paul was graduated from Waltham High School in 1952, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at the height of the Korean war.  He was an Aircraft Engine Mechanic in Strategic Air Command, stationed in Bangor, Maine, and he saw temporary duty in Thule, Greenland and Loring Air Force Base in northern Maine.    Paul was discharged in 1957 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

He was married to Jeannine Pauline Doucett on July 14^th, 1956 at Our Lady of Pity French church in Cambridge, MA.  Upon his discharge, Paul enrolled in Feener Tech School in Boston, where he studied Drafting, and was shortly hired by the Raytheon Co.  His work there entailed secret work on U.S. Government Contracts.  At a later date, he was hired for similar work at Itek Corp.

Their 1^st son, David Edgar (LeeAnn), was born on August 9^th, 1957.  The 2^nd son, James Stephen, was born September 14, 1959, followed by a third son, Bruce William (Marsha) who was born February 19^th, 1963.  In 1967, the Caissie family celebrated the new year by welcoming a daughter, Paula Jeannine (Claude) who was born on January 9^th.  Paula is since deceased, in 2011.

While raising his family, Paul decided to further his education by enrolling in Design Engineering classes at Worcester Junior College, all the while advancing his career in the U.S. aerospace program.  He was very proud of having worked on design of the Hubble Telescope, which was used in space exploration by NASA ,

Along about this time, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts embarked on developing a system of Vocational and Technical High Schools to serve the students who might be interested in following a career in the Trades.  There is always a need for Plumbers, Electricians, Draftsmen, Medical Technology, and Food Trades or the Practical Arts and Design.  That seemed exciting to Paul, and he decided to apply to teach Machine and Tool Drafting and Design.  Since he had many years of experience working in that field, he was quickly hired at Hopedale Junior/Senior High and was employed there for a few years, then transferred to Assabet Valley Vocational, which emcompassed students from the six local towns, including the city of Marlborough, where he resided with his family.  In the meantime, Paul enrolled in night and week-end classes at Fitchburg State College.  He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1975, and eventually got a Master’s Degree from the same college.

At Assabet, Paul taught a class of Special Needs Students life and technical skills, such as Electronic Assembly under a Federal Program designed to prepare students for the world of work.  He found this program quite challenging, but he enjoyed his work there and he considered it quite important.  Unfortunately, the school committee decided not to continue the Federal Program due to lack of local funding.  Paul soon found himself out of a job, but he heard of an opening at Blackstone Vocational High in their Drafting department, so he applied and was immediately hired.  He was eventually appointed head of the department, where he worked until his retirement in December of 1990.

Since by this time, their family was grown and on their own, Jeannine and Paul decided to move to Florida, a dream they had long had for the future.  They settled in Fort Myers Beach, at Bayside Estates.  Two of their married children, Jim and Paula were already living in Fort Myers, within 10 miles of their Mom and Dad.  David and Bruce stayed behind in Mass., they also married and live there to this day.    Paul and Jeannine’s family grew by 6 grandchildren eventually and now have a great-granddaughter, with another great-grandchild expected in October of this year.

Paul worked at several part-time jobs during his retirement, including as a Harbor Master at St. Charles Harbor & Yacht Club in Fort Myers.  He had always enjoyed the water and boating, so this was a dream job for him.  He worked there several years, until such time as daughter Paula was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and after several unsuccessful treatments locally, she travelled to Houston to M.D. Anderson Hospital seeking further treatment.  Paul and Jeannine moved to Houston, Texas with Paula where she eventually received a Stem Cell Transplant from her brother David who proved to be a perfect match.  The transplant was a success, but eventually Paula contracted Graft VS Host Disease, and her liver gave out, and she died in August of 2011.  A sorrowing Jeannine and Paul returned to Fort Myers after 16 months spent in Houston with Paula.

During their years, they maintained a summer home in Sedgwick, Maine, where they had been summering for 50 years, ever since their children were toddlers.  Several of their extended family also spent summers in Maine, so there were always plenty of cousins for the Caissie children to play with.

This past September, Paul was surprised and pleased to be picked to go to Washington on the Honor Flight for U.S. Veterans of all the foreign wars.   This one-day trip consisted of visiting all the War Memorials in our nation’s capital…being flown there from RSW in Ft. Myers to Washington.  Paul’s son Jim went along as a Guide for his father, and this was especially thrilling because both of them were Air Force Veterans.

Paul’s remains have been cremated, and his Funeral Mass will be held at St. Columbkille Church on Iona Rd., Fort Myers, at 10:30 on June 15^th.

Following the ceremony, a light lunch will be served at the Bayside Estates Clubhouse.

Burial of Paul’s Ashes will be private for the family on June 17^th, and will be held at the Memorial Garden of the church, where Paul will be laid to rest in a plot next to that of his beloved daughter Paula.

The family wishes that any donations be sent to Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Cir., Fort Myers, FL 33908, in memory of Paul, for the wonderful care he received from them throughout his illness.