Robert L. Pauly

Robert L. Pauly, 86, of Venice, Florida, formerly of Hamburg, NY, and Buffalo, NY passed away peacefully Saturday October 22, 2011 with family by his side. “Bob” as he was known by family and friends was born in Buffalo, NY on January 22, 1925 to Urban and Catherine (Hildebrand) Pauly. He was an Altar Boy at St. Mary of Sorrows and a charter member of Boy Scout Troop 100. He graduated from East High, class of ’43 in Buffalo where he was a four year member of the band and played the tuba. He served honorably in WWII with the U.S. Army in the 71st Division from 1943-1946 and was stationed in Newfoundland from 1944-1946. He received the good conduct, WWII Victory and American Theater of Operations awards. He went to St. Bonaventure University from 1946-1950 where he played in the band and graduated in 1950. He served with the US Army Reserves 98th Division from 1946-1966 and retired a Captain. He worked for 35 years with E.T. Clauss and Company Insurance in Buffalo, NY and retired a Vice President. He lived in Hamburg, NY from 1960-1990 where he was a longtime member of St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church serving at various times as a lector, with the St. Vincent DePaul Society and various other committees. He was also a member of the Willow Bend Country Club, a multiple gallon blood donor, a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Hamburg Council #2220 and a board member of the Visiting Nurses Association, Buffalo, NY. In 1991 he moved to Venice FL where he lived at Venice Isle Estates. He served as President of the Venice Isle Homeowners Association where in 1996 he helped organize the purchase of the park by the residents and was also a long time board member. He also helped organize the annual Venice Isle Memorial Day Ceremony. He was a hospital volunteer at Venice Regional Medical Center, volunteer at the Elephant’s Trunk Thrift Store, usher at Epiphany Cathedral of Venice, member of American Legion Post #159 of Venice and a member of the men’s glee club at Venice Isle Estates. Over the years he enjoyed spending time with his family, playing tennis, playing cards, swimming, fishing, going to the beach, camping and travelling. He was a longtime fan of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. He was predeceased by his first wife Elizabeth J. (Frank) Pauly 1951-1999 and his second wife Jean (McAvoy) Pauly 2001-2011. He is survived by his son Thomas R. Pauly (wife Kimberly) of Bellingham, WA; his daughter Christine (Pauly) Henshaw (husband Daniel) of Sapulpa, OK; his son John R. Pauly of Hamburg, NY; his son Michael R. Pauly of Eden, NY and his son Joseph R. Pauly of Tampa, FL. He is also survived by four grandchildren Renee (Henshaw) Collier (husband Michael) of Sapulpa, OK; Scott Henshaw (wife Katherine) of Sapulpa, OK; Christopher Pauly of Bellingham, WA and Shawn Pauly of Bellingham, WA. He is also survived by a sister Margaret (Pauly) Mann of Marcellus, NY. He was predeceased by his brother Urban Pauly and his sister Dolores (Pauly) Taylor. Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday November 12, 2011 at Epiphany Cathedral R.C. Church of Venice, FL at 10am. Burial with military honors will follow at the Epiphany Cathedral Church Garden of Remembrance. A memorial mass will be held in Hamburg, NY at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a fund for a scholarship in memory of Robert L. Pauly, St. Bonaventure University, Olean, NY. Farley Funeral Home of Venice, Florida will be handling all arrangements and on line tributes may be made at www.farleyfuneralhome.com