Paul Tursi, our loving and beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, passed away peacefully on April 26th surrounded by his wife, Kathy, daughter, Nicole, son, Brian, and daughter-in-law, Annie.
Paul was born in Queens and raised in Massapequa, leaving Long Island to attend college at the University of Dayton. He returned home after college and a year later met Kathy while they both taught at Cure of Ars in Merrick. They lived in Rockville Center for a time, before settling down in Massapequa to raise their children. Paul switched careers after the kids were born and worked in sales until he retired in 2016. At home, he was quiet and gentle, but in public he could strike up a conversation with anyone he encountered and connect on their level. Paul always put others before himself. He was a dedicated family man and worked tirelessly to provide for and support us all. A loyal Yankees and Jets fan, he was most relaxed while napping in his chair at Tobay beach. When he wasn’t doing those things, you could find him reading books on history or the military or novels by his favorite authors, working in the yard, roaming Home Depot looking for the latest and greatest tools, or playing with his grandsons. He had a wry sense of humor and found himself endlessly entertaining. His one-of-a-kind laugh could fill the room and brought so much joy to those around him.
Paul was sick for several months before being diagnosed with esophageal cancer last November. He battled for five long, hard months, encountering numerous complications along the way. He fought to the end, but his body finally succumbed to an infection he was simply too weak to fight.
Paul is survived by his wife, Kathy, daughter, Nicole, son Brian, daughter-in-law Annie, grandsons, Oliver, Arthur and Oscar, and siblings Ben, Mary Beth and Debbie and their families. He was loved immensely and will be greatly missed.
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