Former Springfield City Councilor Paul Sears died at age 86 “in the loving arms of his wife of more than 60 years” on Tuesday, March 5, according to his obituary.
On Saturday, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno offered condolences to Sears’ family, describing the local real estate business patriarch as a “well-respected realtor,” “shrewd businessman” and “dedicated community leader.”
“Always the gentleman, with that quick Irish wit and wisdom, Paul was a man of strong family and faith,” the mayor said in a statement.
Paul Sears’ early life
Paul Joseph Sears was born in Springfield to Patrick and Mary Sears on Jan. 13, 1938, according to his obituary. He was the youngest of five children and grew up in the city’s Forest Park neighborhood.
During his youth, Sears attended Holy Name Grammar School and Cathedral High School in Springfield, both of which are now closed. He went on to study at Providence College, graduating in 1959, and earned a master’s degree from Yale University, according to this obituary.
“In the fall of 1962, he asked his former Holy Name classmate, Josephine Ryan, on a date to the Big E. Less than a year later, they were married in August 1963,” his obituary reads.
Sears and his wife began their married life by volunteering for missions in the mountains of New Mexico with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, according to his obituary. They remained with the organization for two years before moving back to Springfield with their oldest child.
Paul Sears’ contributions to the Springfield community
Soon after their move home, Sears was hired as the first manager of a non-profit that encouraged home ownership, according to his obituary. In 1971, after a few years at the organization, he founded Sears Real Estate with his partners, Joe Albano and Ellie Dashevsky, and led the business for many years.
“He embodied the Golden Rule and taught the important lesson of how to properly serve your client to all the agents in his brokerage,” his obituary reads.
Sears served as a Springfield city councilor from 1968 to 1976, according to his obituary. Always deeply involved in the community, he was also a member of the local Rotary Club, the Forest Park Civic Association, Concerned Citizens of Springfield, the Everett Barney Trust, the Rental Housing Association of Greater Springfield and the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley.
More people being remembered
Sears’ civic engagement was recognized in 2017 when he received the Ad Club of Western Massachusetts’ William Pynchon Award, which honors “those citizens of our region who have rendered outstanding commitment to the community.”
A lifelong parishioner of Holy Name Parish in Springfield, Sears’ Catholic faith was also very important to him, according to his obituary. He was an active member of the Cursillo Movement of Western Mass, a member of Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley and helped found the local chapter of Birthright — a group of anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers.
“Additionally, he devoted many hours to help raise funds for St. Michael’s Academy, as he was a strong believer in Catholic education and wanted to see future generations of Springfield children have that as an option,” his obituary reads.
Paul Sears’ legacy
Today, Sears Real Estate is still run by Sears’ family members, according to his obituary. Together, they are continuing Sears’ legacy of “helping people across western Massachusetts achieve the American Dream of home ownership.”
Sears leaves behind his wife, their six children and their 17 grandchildren, according to his obituary. His wake is scheduled for Sunday, March 10, at Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation in East Longmeadow from 4 to 7 p.m. His funeral is set to be held Monday at Holy Name Catholic Church in Springfield at 11 a.m., and a funeral procession and burial at St. Michael’s Cemetery will follow.
“Paul was known for many things, but especially his quick wit, zest for life, generosity, and devotion to family,” his obituary reads. “He had an incredible sense of humor and always loved a good laugh. He will be missed beyond measure.”
