Paul K. D' Arcy

Paul K. D’Arcy of Lyme, successful entrepreneur, intrepid sailor, and avid skier, died January 5, 2012 at Middlesex Hospital at the age of 93. His wife, Elinor Franklin Smith D’Arcy, survives him. He remained active in the management of his company, Twin Manufacturing, serving at his desk until only days before his passing.

Paul was born November 6, 1918, in Westernport, MD, only child of Pearl (Russell) and the Reverend Cyrus D’Arcy. During his youth, the family moved amongst many northern New England Baptist congregations before finally settling outside of Willamantic, CT. After losing his father to cancer at the age of 15, he began to support himself and his invalid mother while simultaneously completing high school with high marks (Windham, class of ’36).

His parents, throughout his childhood, frequently repeated to him, “It’s hell to be poor,” and “Paul, you’ll die with your bootstraps on.” Motivated by these two axioms, and lacking the funds to go to college, Paul went to work nights at American Thread Co. while attending trade school days, completing the three year degree program in only eighteen months.

Paul worked as a Draftsman & Machinist for several Connecticut manufacturing companies before joining Pratt & Whitney in 1942, commencing a 70 year career in the aircraft industry. While employed at P & W through the war years, he befriended coworker Walter Rose. Together, in 1950, they left Pratt to open their own machine shop—literally in a garage—with a single machine, taking turns running it 24/7 until they could afford a second.

Their company, Windsor Manufacturing, grew and eventually became specialized in the machining of hard-to-machine alloys used in the hot sections of jet engines. Thirty-one years later, when the partners decided to “retire,” the company had burgeoned to nearly 400 employees. They sold it to Barnes Group in 1981.

Following the sale, Paul and Ellie traveled the globe, from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle, but Paul eventually became restless. In 1986, he purchased another machine shop, Twin Manufacturing in South Windsor CT, and, at age 68, resumed his career. He converted Twin from a tool and die shop to an FAA approved repair station for refurbishing jet engine parts, with most major airlines as customers. Despite increasingly severe visual, aural and mobility impairments, Paul was successful in this 25 year “second career,” finding it stimulating and nourishing, as he loved challenges and working with people. He had, upon his death, arranged for the control and management of the company to be turned over to key employees.

In addition to his wife, Paul is survived by four sons, Alan D’Arcy of Somers, John D’Arcy of Suffield, Edward D’Arcy of Stuart, FL, and Joseph D’Arcy of Rocky Hill; two grandsons, Brendon D’Arcy of Lyme, and Justin D’Arcy of Windsor; his step-son Norman Smith of Seattle WA, many other cherished family and friends, his adored employees at Twin Mfg., and a constant and caring Susan Anderson. Ida (Ferola) D’Arcy, his first wife and mother of his four sons, pre-deceased him.

In 1980, Paul built a deepwater dock & dockside office on Hamburg Cove in Lyme where, two years later, he began berthing the flagship of his many racing yachts, “Runaway,” a 58‘ custom Ted Hood cutter. In 1988, Paul built a dream getaway amongst the boulders on Virgin Gorda, BVI, from which he enjoyed a commanding view down the Sir Francis Drake Channel. In 1991, taking design cues from this beloved Virgin Gorda house, he built his final home by his dock on Hamburg Cove.

High points of Paul’s love affair with the sea were sailing into Bermuda, en route to and from Virgin Gorda, 17 times, including two first-to-finishes in the Marion-Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race, one of which established a course record time of 3 days, 8 hours, and 47 minutes. He raced his J-24, “Fun,” with his sons and grandsons, right into his eighties. Paul was a member of the Essex Yacht Club, a past Commodore of the Baldwin Yacht Club, and a member of the First Congregational Church of Lyme.

A victim of severe neuropathy, Paul’s lack of mobility eventually ended his sailing career, prompting his transition to a Hinckley Picnic boat. At age 88, still an incurable lover of flight, he purchased a Robinson 44 helicopter, which he dearly loved and vowed never to give up. With his son Ed piloting, Paul flew all over the East Coast, including a poignant return visit to his Maryland birthplace. On one occasion, he and two sons navigated his helicopter all the way to Virgin Gorda and back, a 5,000 mile round trip, stopping along the way in Florida, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

After a life well-lived, he finally succumbed to cancer of the liver and colon. A burial ceremony will be held on Saturday, January 14, at 11:00 AM at the Eight Mile River Cemetery on Mt. Archer Road in Lyme. In accordance with his wishes, announcements will soon be made for a joyous celebration of his life to be held at his house in Lyme this Spring. Donations in Paul’s memory may be made to the Lyme Land Conservation Trust, or the charity of your choice. To sign the on line guest book visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com.