Paul Anthony Shiminski, 80, died Nov. 28 in Damariscotta after a long illness. He was born in Worcester, Mass. Jan. 17, 1928 to Anthony James and Mary Eleanor (Brogan) Shiminski. He graduated from Clark University with a degree in Geography and from Springfield College with a Master’s in Education. While in college, Paul excelled as an athlete in basketball, golf, and baseball and later was named to the Clark University Athletic Hall of Fame.
On Sept. 11, 1951, he married Dorothy Louise Simpson. Paul served 2½ years in the Army as a second lieutenant and then accepted a high school teaching position in Fort Plain, N.Y., where he settled into teaching and raising a family. Paul and Dorothy raised seven children. As a teacher, known affectionately as “Buddha”, he empowered all his students to take heed from life’s lessons. His teaching career spanned 29 years and included coaching golf, basketball and baseball, and refereeing boys’ and girls’ soccer. The Capital Region Soccer Coaches Association awarded him the Golden Thread Award for his outstanding contribution in the officiating of soccer in the Capital District. He was an active community member and a communicant of St. James Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Shiminski; their children, Paula Thompson and husband Guy, Donald Shiminski and wife Sue, James Shiminski and wife Linda, John Shiminski and wife Janice, Vincent Shiminski and wife Sally, Karla Shiminski and husband Tim Miller and Myra Caron and husband Glen; sister Joan Macchi; brother, James Shiminski; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial, 10 a.m., Tues., Dec. 2 at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle, with Rev. Alfred Irving, Celebrant. He was laid to rest at the Achorn Cemetery in Rockland.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 170 US Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.