Louis J. DePaul

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Longtime Newtown Educator [/naviga:h2]

Louis J. DePaul, 84, of Danbury, died June 7. He was born in Danbury, the son of Jennie (Stavola) DePaul and Charles DePaul.

His loving wife of 55 years, Jean (Fanning) DePaul; two sons, Guy DePaul, and his wife Janet, and Mark DePaul, and his fiancée Grace Alcaide; two granddaughters; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins survive Mr DePaul.

His parents and a sister, Evelyn Hannon, predeceased him.

Mr DePaul served in the US Navy and was a veteran of World War II. After returning from the war, he graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a degree in psychology and from Danbury Teachers College (now Western Connecticut State University) with an MS in education. He also received a professional certificate in cooperative education from Central Connecticut State University and Northeastern University.

He was an educator and proud of it. He started his life’s work in the Litchfield Public Schools in 1956. The next year, 1957, he joined the Newtown Public School system and remained there until his retirement in 1991. In addition to his classroom duties, in his first ten years in Newtown he coached the varsity basketball team and also initiated the high school’s first varsity golf team, winning the WCC Championship in his last year as the team’s coach. In 1967, Mr DePaul became the first coordinator/director of Newtown High School’s Cooperative Work Education Program, a position that changed his life as well as many others. It was his life’s true calling and mission. In 1984, the Connecticut State Advisory Council cited him for his contribution in the advancement of Vocational-Career Education in Connecticut. In 1987 and 1988 Mr DePaul was selected by the State Cooperative Education Coordinators as Coordinator of the Year. Upon his retirement, Mr DePaul was involved with the Connecticut Retired Teachers Association, serving on its Board of Directors from 1992 to 2008.

In addition to his family and education, Mr DePaul enjoyed sports and politics. He was a pitcher who had a great curve and so-so fastball. He was a member of the St Nick’s Gold Medal Team, the US Naval baseball team in Hawaii, and the varsity basketball and baseball teams at Danbury Teachers College. In his later years, he volunteered his time as a coach for the Danbury Brewster Little League team and the El Dorado Babe Ruth team. In 2002, Mr DePaul was honored by and inducted into the Danbury Old Timer’s Association.

 He was elected as state representative in 1954 to the Connecticut General Assembly. He was also appointed by the late Danbury Mayor Gino Arconti in 1971 as chairperson of the Tax Formula Study Committee. He was also active in Democratic politics in the 1950s and 70s, and recent campaigns.

Mr DePaul was a member of St Gregory the Great Church, Top Hat Volunteers, and the Catholic War Veterans. He was also a 60-year member of the Amerigo Vespucci Lodge, having served in various positions, including president.

He and his wife loved to spend time at the beaches in Rhode Island and Florida, as well as the horse races in Saratoga, N. Y.

His family, immediate and extended, will miss him dearly.

Memorials may be made in Mr DePaul’s name to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook Street, I-91 Tech Center, Rocky Hill CT 06067-3045; or the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford CT 06492.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated June 13. Burial was in Wooster Cemetery, Danbury.

To light a candle of hope and remembrance, visit www.CornellMemorial.com.

Newtown Bee                     June 17, 2011