Paul Sylvester

Memorial and Celebration of Life Services

A two-part memorial and celebration of life service will be held for Paul John Sylvester, a retired electrical engineer, train and trolley buff and musician, on Saturday, May 23.  He died earlier this year two-and-a-half months after being diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer. He was 71.

The two-part service will start at 11 am at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home in Reading (corner of Woburn and Sanborn Sts.), with prayers and remembrances.

A celebration of life service will follow at Smolak Farms in N. Andover (315 S. Bradford St.). At the farm, the community band Paul played saxophone with for many years will play several special short selections live. Paul had worked part time at Smolak as a tractor driver for hayrides, a docent and a builder and repairman, after he retired several years ago.

Paul began his professional career as an electrical engineer with the Polaroid Corp. A Reading resident for 45 years, he also worked for different companies on medical ultrasounds devices, vehicle safety technology and government security projects.

In the early 2000's, Paul and his son, Mark, both began to volunteer at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunk, ME. And for the last 20-plus years, Paul and Mark had helped repair and run trolleys at an end-of-summer event in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The trolleys move fair-goers around the fair campground.

Paul attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a combined bachelor's and master's engineering and computer science degree program.

Before he began to play saxophone with the community band, Paul played keyboards in several wedding bands, including "Diversion."

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Nadine Wandzilak, and their son, Mark; Paul's sister, Elaine Sylvester, of Peekskill, NY; and several first, second and third cousins.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168; by phone to 1-800-525-4669; or at www.dana-farber.org in Paul's name.

www.douglassfuneralhome.com