HORNELL-Paul E. McAnany, 65, passed away Wednesday (August 4, 2021), at his home in Hornell, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness.
Paul grew up in Hornell in the Grey House on Erie Avenue, the son of Jack and Mildred McAnany, brother of Eileen, Jack, and Mark. He met his lifelong love, Jeanne (LaBarron) McAnany at Hornell High School, and went on to study Civil Engineering at the New York State Maritime College and the University at Buffalo. His distinguished career as a professional engineer began with several years as a founding partner of Bergmann Associates in Rochester before returning to Hornell with his young family in 1984 to begin thirty-two years of engineering and leadership work for the NY State Department of Transportation. He was a valued leader at work as well as in our community, serving 15 years on the Hornell City School Board of Education, including four terms as president. He also volunteered as an adult leader for 35 years with the Five Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and was honored in 2008 with the Silver Beaver award. In his retirement, he spent many hours maintaining and improving local sections of the Finger Lakes Trail as part of the NYSATE trail crew. He was as enthusiastic about stepping up to his civic duties as he was about stepping up to the bar at Paddy’s for his weekly participation in Wednesday night’s Mug Club. Mug numbers 53, 91, 93, 37 and 3 solved many of the world’s problems over their weekly pints.
A great student of Civil War history, Abraham Lincoln, and history in general, he read widely on these topics and never tired of visiting battle fields and museums. Paul and Jeanne traveled as much as possible with their kids while they were young, and, more recently, embraced the freedom of retirement: road-tripping, camping, visiting family, exploring National Parks and other destinations, and spending as much time as possible with their granddaughters Maggie and Mabel in San Diego. Paul’s travels included eight trips “across the pond” to Ireland, becoming a knowledgeable tour guide for his many return trips with the lucky friends and family members who joined him. Undoubtedly, there are many readers of this obituary who count themselves lucky to have shared a Guinness with Paul, and recall his love of dad jokes, good stories and vociferous arguments about history, politics, and the best way to do anything. If someone needed wisdom and expertise to begin or execute a home improvement project or advice for a variety of life’s complications, small or large, Paul would be called upon. His loved ones knew him to be skillful, creative, compassionate and steady in all of life’s ups and downs. In Jeanne and Paul’s house on Walnut Street there is a ceiling beam he designed, to remove a narrow hallway, creating an open and welcoming foyer. In the Roberts’ home on Maplewood Avenue there is another beam he engineered to open wide a kitchen addition that became the setting of many family parties. What an apt symbol of Paul’s role in our lives: a structural beam, a sturdy support designed to make our family homes more spacious, expanding the space to be filled with more life and love.
Paul left us all too soon. He joins in heaven his parents, Jack and Mildred; Jeanne’s parents Ray and Mary LaBarron (and Mary Trouslot LaBarron). He is survived by Jeanne, his beloved wife of forty-four years, and his children: Patrick (Jenny) McAnany with granddaughters Maggie and Mabel, Steven (Gretchen) McAnany, and Maureen (Patrick Hart) McAnany. His siblings are Jack (Debbie) McAnany, Mark (Elaine) McAnany, Eileen (Michael) McAnany Dill. Jeanne’s siblings are Linda (Jim)Varner, Bob (Lynn) LaBarron, Christine (Pat) Congdon, Kathy (Gary) Roberts. Paul had many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who will treasure their memories of Paul.
Calling hours are 4-7 P.M. Monday (August 9, 2021) at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. A memorial service will be held at the United Presbyterian Church, 150 Main St., Hornell at 11 a.m. Tuesday (August 10, 2021). Paul’s family invites friends and loved ones to gather at The Main Place beginning at noon on Tuesday, August 10 to raise a glass to Paul’s full and joyous life. Unvaccinated people are kindly asked to wear a face mask. Thank you for understanding.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the following: Finger Lakes Trail Conference, 6111 Visitor Center Road, Mt. Morris, NY 14510 (www.fingerlakestrail.org/members/give), Friends of the Boy Scouts of America Camp Gorton, P.O. Box 962, Corning, NY 14830 or to the Hornell High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 135, Hornell, NY 14843 (www.hornellalumni.org). Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home and church.
The Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., in Hornell is honored to assist Paul’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences or remembrances of Paul are welcomed on the Facebook page of Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. or at www.bishopandjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
