Obituary of Paul F. Barone

Paul F. Barone , 83, of Dunkirk, NY passed away on Sunday morning, July 17, 2022 at the Absolut Care Aurora  Park Nursing Home  in East Aurora, NY.

Paul was a retired professor from Erie Community College. He was born on February 14, 1939 in Silver Creek, NY, the son of the late Charles and Irene (Spencer) Barone.

He is survived by three sons, Jon (Rhonda) Barone of Yantis, TX, Daniel (Nicole) Barone  of Lake Worth Beach, FL and Robert (Stephanie) Barone of Flower Mound, TX; a daughter, Kimberley (Joseph) Tijerina of McKinney, TX; eleven  grandchildren, Austin and  McLaren Barone, Kalynn and  Katherine Tijerina, Rebecca Barone, Chase and  Shane Kratz, Liam Hanson , Isabella, Brycen and Del Rose Shomper also survived by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by seven siblings, Dorothy Smith, Charles Barone, John Barone, Margaret Burt, David Barone, Virginia Dolce and Ray Barone.

Paul was a 1957 graduate of Silver Creek High School, received a Bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University (1961) and a Master’s degree from Indiana University (1962). He joined the US Army in 1963 and achieved the rank of 1^st Lieutenant while serving the 10^th Artillery Battalion, 3^rd Division in Schweinfurt, Germany, retiring in 1965.

Paul began his full time teaching career as an instructor in the newly formed Recreation Leadership Department at Erie County Technical Institute in the fall of 1965 and retired from Erie Community College as a full professor with 30 years of service in June 1995.

Paul was instrumental in establishing a free recreation program at the South Campus for mentally and physically impaired youth and adults within the South -towns  communities.  After a decade of volunteered programming he was able to add Special Olympic training for his clients and consequently directed , for many years , the South -towns Special Olympic Summer Games. This led to his appointment as Games Director of the NY Special Olympic Summer Games hosted by SUNY at Buffalo (1987 & 1988). This became the most rewarding and challenging position of his voluntary career.

He served as the head coach of the Cross Country and Track & Field team at ECC for 10 years. He was a lifetime member of the NY State Recreation & Parks Society and of the Niagara Frontier Recreation & Parks Society.  As an active member of the latter, he served 3 terms as president and received one of its highest honors for “Excellence in the Field of Recreation.” He was an active member of the Erie County Olympics Committee and served as the Southern Tier Field representative for the New York Special Olympics. He was a 3^rd degree member of the Msgr Edmund J. O’ Connor Knights of Columbus Council 5356, a member of the Royal Order of Moose Lodge 89 in Dunkirk and the Fredonia American Legion Post 0059.

Relatives and friends may call at the Hole-Parker Funeral Chapel, 160 Central Ave. Silver Creek on Monday, July 25, 2022 from 5-7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at Our Lady of Mt Carmel RC Church, 165 Central Ave. Silver Creek. Interment will be in the Mt Carmel  Cemetery. Flowers gratefully declined. Memorial contributions in Paul’s memory may be made to Erie County Special Olympics.

Please share condolences at www.holeparkerfc.com.