Paul L. Beckwith

MARSTONS MILLS, MA - Paul L. Beckwith, 86, of Marstons Mills, formerly of Worcester, died at home Friday, May 14, 2021 of cancer.

His wife of 57 years, Maureen C. (Smith), predeceased him in June of 2015.

Born in Worcester to Margaret (Murphy) Beckwith, Paul attended Worcester Public Schools and was a celebrated athlete, notably in football, at South High.  He met Maureen while working at the former Thom McAn shoe company in Worcester and, until her death, they spent their time enjoying live music, traveling to inns across New England, and raising their ever-growing family.  Paul was a devoted Jesse Burkett Little league coach, Boy Scout leader, and local campaign volunteer as well as a lover of jazz music, bass fishing, democracy and a lifelong student of music and history.  Upon his retirement from the Massachusetts Turnpike in 1996 and relocating to Cape Cod, he was able to devote more time to enjoying baseball, UConn Women’s Basketball, and British TV shows and films.  He was a dog whisperer and strove daily to produce the perfect cup of tea.

Paul will be missed by his six children, Anne Murphy and her husband, Thomas of Wilmington, VT, Mary Beckwith and her wife, Jill of North Dartmouth, Paul Beckwith and his wife, Toni of Watertown, John Beckwith and his wife, Dee Dee of Marstons Mills, Jean Collamore and her husband, John of Worcester, Laura Cahill and her partner Kevin Donohue of Worcester, as well as his 13 grandchildren, Kara Coffin and her husband, Michael, Joseph Beckwith, Elizabeth and Andrew Eglin, Jay and Grace Beckwith, Lydia and Aileen Cahill, Hayley and Julia Collamore, Isaiah Beckwith, Erin Murphy and her husband Phil Skypeck, and John Murphy; and 4 great grandchildren, Quinn, Evelyn, and Cormac Coffin, and Susan Skypeck.

Paul also leaves a sister, Carolyn O’Murphy, of Butte MT, a sister-in-law, Anne (Smith) LaFortune and her husband, James, of Belchertown MA, many nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends who made his years in Worcester and Cape Cod so enjoyable.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys, 77 Mulberry St. Leicester, MA 01524.

Services will be private and in the care of Rice Funeral Home, 300 Park Ave, Worcester.