Local builder and volunteer Paul Wakely recently passed away at the age of 69. Born on June 8, 1952, Paul was a veteran of the US Army, serving from 1972 – 1974. Graduating from UCONN in 1977 with a degree in Finance, Paul was employed at Dun & Bradstreet, but his love of the out-of-doors led to a career in building. In 1983 he became a partner in Lehto & Wakely Builders, and in 1999 he formed Paul Wakely Builders and Wakely Property Development. A strong believer in staying in shape, he played football and rugby at UCONN, ran the Boston Marathon in 1978 and the Hartford half-marathon in 2014, and in 2009, he biked 4133 miles in the Trans Am Bikecentennial route from Yorktown, Virginia to Florence, Oregon, a journey he chronicled in The Hampton Gazette. He contributed to our town in many ways, serving on the Recreation Commission, Inland-Wetlands, Green Energy Committee, the Board of Finance, and the Fletcher Memorial Library where he completed many building and grounds projects, earning him the nickname “Schneider” among family members. He volunteered with and served on the board of Habitat for Humanity and was very active in his family’s Wakely Foundation. These are things Paul did, but not who he was. The consummate teacher, Paul never missed an opportunity to impart a life lesson upon his children and grandchildren. He believed in giving people the benefit of the doubt, living, and moving on, with good and bad decisions, and caring for, and holding dear, his friends and family. Our condolences to his wife Sharon, son and daughter-in-law Benjamin and Meaghan and their children Nolan and Margaret, son Jacob and his fiancé Nakita Herne, daughter and son-in-law Samantha and Nicholas Rizer, and their children Westin and Ellis. Donations in Paul’s memory may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.