Obituary of Edward S. Paulsen, Jr.

February 20, 2025 at age 80.  He leaves his wife Julie.  Ned is predeceased by his parents, Edward and Louise, his sisters Carol Cardinale and Karen Augustine and his nephew, Michael Augustine.  Along with Julie, he is survived by his children Jon, Edward (Audrey) and Andrew; grandchildren Jonny, Chase, Sam, Dottie and Tatum; siblings Louise Paulsen (John Solberg), Roseanne (Nick) Mascari, John (Helen) Paulsen, Margaret (Andrew) Molodetz; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorial Service Friday, March 7 at 10am at the chapel at St. Ann’s Community.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Leo Center at St. Ann’s.

Ned came into our world as WWII was coming to a close.  As we as a country began to make sense of our place in the world, Ned also began his journey finding his place sorting out his gifts, his joys and his places to be heard.  He did it with superb confidence, skillful craftsmanship, sportsmanship and always music.  He was the third of seven children born in Geneva New York.

He attended St. Stephen’s Elementary School, DeSales High School and continued his education and earned degrees from SUNY Oswego, Fairfield University and College of New Rochelle.  Thus, his path was clear.  He spent his professional life dedicated to educating the young children of Larchmont NY at Chatsworth Avenue Elementary School.  He and his students had a simpatico relationship.  They soaked up the kindness, warmth, joy, simplicity and wonder he had to impart, and he was free to entertain himself and his students with his humor and his jamming to the tune of Tom Dooley and Charlie trying to get off the MTA.  His creativity could not be contained.  In his final years at Chatsworth he served as the Vice-Principal before moving back to his roots in the Finger Lakes Region.

West Irondequoit Central School District provided him the opportunity to serve as Principal of Iroquois and Colebrook Schools where he broadened and deepened his sphere of influence in educating young learners.  Later he served as Director of Elementary Curriculum, also in West Irondequoit, until his retirement.

But his professional career did not end here.  He continued as a consultant with Research for Better Teaching based in Boston. 

Ned continued the family legacy with his love for golf and this ever-increasing web of golf partners extended through the younger generations.  Family golf tournaments became a family tradition.

Ned spent many days and hours on Long Island Sound sailing with Julie and their friends.

Ned learned to be a fine carpenter, another skill learned from his father.  He was able to have homes otherwise unavailable to him, kitchens worthy of he and Julie’s love of cooking.  Best of all, he shared this love with his son Jon, his sister and many of his nephews who made it their life’s work.  His family’s lives were enriched.

And cars!  1951 Pontiac Chieftian.  The first of many cars he restored.  There was also an MG, a Triumph and an Austin Healey.  Ned joined friends and family to see the beauty in a well-tuned car.  

Western Pennsylvania coal country is where Grandpa Ott played his music back at the turn of the last century.  As fate would have it, Grandpa’s guitar made its way to Ned when he was a junior in high school, and it changed his life.  The language of music found its voice in Ned.  A teacher before his time, he taught his brothers and sisters to feel the beat and hear the sound and harmonize.  He brought folk music into his classroom; some guitar students were with him for all their years in Larchmont Schools.  Family gatherings were transformed from post turkey lethargy to animated versions of Alice’s Restaurant.  Ned continued to blend his gifts through his music until his final days.

Ned had a life force that was part of all he did.  We will strive to love with the same gentleness he showed us.