Paul Lisson

A Man of Surprises

Paul Lisson lived alone in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, never married, and rarely used his vacation time. He arrived at work early and never called in sick, even after badly bruising himself last year in a fall on a subway platform. Invariably it was Mr. Lisson, whose loneliness could be palpable, who collected the money and bought the cake when someone had a birthday. "He wouldn't harm a fly, my God, he was so, so tender," said Andre Vidal, who works for Pitney Bowes, the mail and documents subcontractor that assigned Mr. Lisson to the Aon Corp.'s offices at the World Trade Center.

But it seems that even Mr. Lisson, a reserved, 45-year-old records clerk, an only child who had cared for his mentally ill mother until her death, harbored his share of mystery.

At a memorial dinner in Greenwich Village, many among the three dozen mourners were surprised to learn that they were not Mr. Lisson's only friend, that his father was more involved in his life than he'd acknowledged, and that he was a wicked mimic.

Bill Kirkhuff, an old family friend, described the Ed Sullivan routine Mr. Lisson had spontaneously performed as an 8-year- old. Mr. Vidal marveled over Mr. Lisson's utter reliability. Sidney Lisson, a retired graphics artist, discovered that his son had won attendance awards and had a personnel file brimming with commendations. "I'm so full of grief, still," Sidney Lisson said. "My heart is absolutely shattered."