Paul Shoer

**UPDATED SERVICE INFORMATION: Funeral Services will be held on TUESDAY, February 9, 2016 at 1:00PM at Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Temple Sinai Cemetery, Buxton Rd., Danvers. Shiva will be held TUESDAY until 8PM, and WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY from 2-8PM. SEE BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILS.**

Paul Shoer, 94, of North Hampton, NH, formally of Swampscott, MA died peacefully the morning of February 5, 2016 at home as he wished. He was surrounded by his immediate family throughout his final days. He leaves behind the loves of his life, Sylvia T. (Stone), his wife of over 67 years; his eldest son, Larry and his wife Emily of Lancaster, MA and their children Joseph and his wife Nicole, Leah and her fiancé Nathan, and Rebecca; daughter Cindy and her husband Bob, of Beverly, MA and their children Petty Officer First Class Eben (USN) and his wife Kelley, and Lance; and his youngest son, MJ and his wife Jennifer, of Portsmouth, NH and their children, Hannah, Molly and Noah.

A son of immigrants, Paul was born in Hancock, MI on September 10, 1921, the 7th of 10 children of Mandel and Sarah (Brisk) Shoer. The family moved to Salem, MA in the late 1920’s where they raised their close-knit family. In his younger years, Paul was an avid athlete playing baseball, football and his favorite sport, ice hockey. Paul was a graduate of Salem High School and enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp in 1941. He was selected for the Army Specialized Training Program and served as a Sergeant stationed at North Field on the island of Guam. On August 14, 1945 his brother Sam (USN) surprised Paul as he was writing a letter to their parents. They learned of the Japanese surrender ending World War II as Paul drove Sam back to his ship. Their story was chronicled in the local media.

When he returned home he attended Northeastern University, graduating in 1948 with a degree in chemistry. Shortly after graduation Paul founded and was President of Waterlac Industries headquartered in Danvers, MA. Waterlac grew to incorporate divisions in Leicester, MA; Cuba, MO; and Montreal, Canada. A strong believer in higher education, Paul earned his Ph.D. from Clayton University in 1980.

In his later years Paul converted his industrial building on Andover Street in Danvers for retail use. In 1999 he realized a long-time goal of recreating a New England covered bridge on the Danvers site. The Sylacin Trust bridge sits over the Crane Brook at 120 Andover Street.

For over 50 years Paul and his family enjoyed their vacation home on Lake Balch in West Newfield, ME. Paul pursued his keen interest in the building trades by renovating the original cottage into a year round vacation destination for his family. He was immensely proud of his work and took great pleasure in seeing his children and their families enjoy the fruits of his labor. He often talked of going to “Holiday House” to enjoy the lake at all times of the year.

Family was the most important thing to Paul. In the 1980’s and early 1990’s he enjoyed spending time near his brothers, sisters and their spouses in the West Palm Beach, FL area. He was predeceased by his brother Leo and wife Sylvia (Marks); brother Irving and wife Jenny (Pearl); brother William and wife Jennie (Smidt); sister Libby Halperin and husband Meyer; sister Betty Feffer and husband Benny. He was also predeceased by his brother-in-law Sam Goldstein and sister-in-law Faith (Hurwitz) Shoer. He is survived by sisters Ida Goldstein and Ruthie Rossman, brother Sam and his wife Selma (Kaplowitch), and brother Lou.

The funeral will take place on TUESDAY, February 9 at 1 PM at the Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel at 10 Vinnin Street, Salem, MA. Interment will immediately follow the service at the family plot at Temple Sinai of Marblehead Cemetery, 16 Buxton Road, off Cemetery Road, Danvers, MA. Following interment family and friends are invited to gather at his late residence. All are welcome.

The family will observe Shiva at his late residence on TUESDAY until 8 PM and on WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY, February 10 and 11, from 2 to 8 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Paul’s memory may be made to Temple Jacob, P.O. Box 273, Hancock, MI 49930; Rotary Club of Danvers, P.O. Box 14, Danvers, MA 01923; or a charity of one’s choice.