Paul S. Doherty ’56 died on January 30, 2016, in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
(The following was published in The Republican from Feb. 1 to Feb. 3, 2016):
Paul Spence Doherty, 81, died peacefully on January 30 at home in Longmeadow after a valiant hard-fought 3 year battle with lung cancer. Paul was a proud husband, father, uncle, and grandfather, and along with his wife, Dianne, a committed and energetic supporter of civic life in Springfield and western Massachusetts. Born in Springfield on April 28, 1934, the son of Louis and Mary Doherty of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Paul grew up in Longmeadow and graduated from Deerfield Academy, Bowdoin College and Harvard Law School, and received an LLM in Taxation from Boston University Law School. He was a co-founder, along with his father and others, of the Springfield law firm of Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy, where he spent more than 50 years as a corporate, tax, and estate planning lawyer. Paul was an accomplished and competitive athlete, a skilled tennis, squash, and hockey player, and an avid skier. He was a founding governor of the Field Club of Longmeadow. Paul was famous for asking questions that helped people think more deeply about their hopes and goals, and he listened to all with a generous heart. Clients, friends, and family sought his support and carefully reasoned advice, which was often salted with his beloved gentle wit. He was a former adjunct faculty member at Western New England University Law School, and a mentor, teacher and advisor to many students, young lawyers and community members. Paul’s passion for serving the community included years of voluntary service for which he received many awards for his numerous activities carried out in support of Springfield and the Greater Pioneer Valley, including the William Pynchon, the area’s oldest community service recognition award. He served on many non-profit and corporate boards, including Westmass Area Development Corporation, ING Funds, Tambrands, Business Leaders for Education, and Roca. Paul was a past chair of United Way, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Boys Club, and Mass Ventures. Paul was also a Trustee of the UMass-Amherst Foundation and a early and lifetime supporter of both the Community Foundation of Western Mass and the Downey Side adoption agency. He was a co-founder of Valley Gives a campaign to share the philanthropic generosity of western mass. He was also a former member of many Governor-appointed state boards including the Massachusetts Board of Regents of Higher Education, the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Council, and the Automobile Liability Insurance Committee. More recently he was actively involved in the Springfield Public School Teacher/Workforce Housing Initiative, helping to recruit outstanding public school teachers to Springfield. Paul enjoyed both the complexity of world politics and the significance of community politics. He appreciated the simple things around him in life, often commenting how fortunate and blessed he was. Above all, he was absolutely devoted to his wife, four daughters, their families and grandchildren, generously surprising them with Christmas gifts of family adventures throughout the United States and the world. Paul leaves his wife of 55 years, Dianne Fuller Doherty of Longmeadow, his daughters, Linda Doherty Boborodea of Longmeadow; Brenda Doherty of Springfield; Lisa Doherty and her spouse Jean Deliso of Longmeadow; and Andrea Doherty Lissuzzo and her husband, Anthony Lissuzzo of River Forest, Illinois; his grandchildren Anna Doherty Boborodea, Maria Doherty Boborodea, Nicos Doherty Boborodea, Paul Lissuzzo, Sofia Lissuzzo, Spence Doherty Deliso, and Clement Joseph Doherty Deliso; and his sister-in-law, Mary Lou Doherty, of Richmond, Virginia, and 3 nephews, Lou, Frank and Paul Doherty and niece, Mary Beth Poggi. He was predeceased by his brother, James L. Doherty. Paul also leaves his long time “little brother” Rickey Moore of San Antonio, Texas. Paul was a man of abiding faith, believing in the power of God’s love to bring peace and hope to all people everywhere. Friends noted that Paul was one of those people to whom making the world a better place seemed to come naturally. The family greatly appreciates the outpouring of support, visits, notes, and calls sent to Paul during the past three years. He was most grateful for and comforted by the love extended to him.