Photo courtesy of Douglass Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home
Jul 16, 1954 - Feb 8, 2026
Hard to see you go, my friend. Thank you for everything you taught me and for being my friend and Mentor. Love you always.
Elvis Mejia
February 19, 2026 | Methuen, MA | Friend
Dear Mark and Nadine, I am so very sorry for your loss. Paul was an incredible man and I know he loved working at Smolak Farms. He truly was an ambassador of the farm. He will be missed.
Judy Nigrelli
February 18, 2026 | North Andover, MA | Coworker
I am so sorry, Nadine. Paul was such a good , kind person. Rarely do two people have what you guys did. Thinking of you and your family and sending you lots of loving thoughts. I am so very sorry.
Mary Too Foppiano
February 14, 2026 | Patterson, NY | Friend
Dear Nadine and Mark, I will always think of Paul fondly. Always warm, always welcoming, and always quick with a smile. God bless you both.
Michael DeFelice
February 14, 2026 | New Canaan | Friend
Dear Nadine and Mark, I had the pleasure to work with Paul at Polaroid. I remember his kindness and wonderful smile. My husband Bill and I send our deepest sympathies. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Marie and Bill Smyth
Marie Smyth
February 14, 2026 | Plymouth, MA | Coworker
Paul was a good friend and close colleague at Polaroid. He taught me a lot about electronics, cameras and engineering in general. Paul, Nadine and I had many fun times after work, on ski trips and hiking trips. I remember one time, very shortly before Mark was born, that a group of us from Polaroid descended on the house in Reading and helped Nadine finish painting a room for Mark, all while Paul was away. It was a very tightly-knit group. I also enjoyed working with Paul at Philips for...
Dave Farrington
February 14, 2026 | Portsmouth, NH | Coworker
I knew Paul as a kind coworker, mentor and friend. My sincere condolences to the family. Wishing you peace and comfort.
Rishi Naik
February 13, 2026 | Andover, MA | Friend
I am so sorry to lose my friend Paul he was a great mentor and helped me in my engineering career. Thanks Paul for all your help. Love you, Andy.
Andrew Green
February 13, 2026 | Salem, NH | Friend
I met Paul at the Seashore Trolley Museum where we were both Volunteers. Spent many years working with Paul during Seashores Pumpkin Patch event and other events.
thomas tello
February 12, 2026 | Medford, MA | Friend
Paul John Sylvester, a retired electrical engineer, train and trolley buff and musician, died Sunday, Feb. 8, in hospital, two-and-a-half months after being diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer. He was 71.
Paul began his professional career as an electrical engineer with the Polaroid Corp. One of a group of then-recent college graduates, he designed circuits and hardware for several Polaroid cameras. He holds at least one patent for his work there.
A Reading resident for 45 years, he also worked for different companies on medical ultrasounds devices, vehicle safety technology and government security projects.
He became a train and trolley enthusiast much earlier, working summers during college with his father, the late Ernest Sylvester, at the locomotive maintenance shop for commuter rail engines at Harmon, NY.
He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a combined bachelor’s and master’s engineering and computer science degree program.
After college, in 1978, he married his classmate from Ossining (NY) High School, Nadine Wandzilak. They have a son, Mark Sylvester, of Reading.
In the early 2000’s, Paul and Mark both began to volunteer at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunk, ME. Mark continues to volunteer there. And for the last 20-plus years, Paul and Mark have been attending an end-of-summer farming event in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa to help repair and run trolleys that move fair-goers around the fair campground.
Musically, for a number of years before he became ill, Paul played saxophone with the North Reading Community Band. More than 30 years ago he played keyboards in several wedding bands, including “Diversion,” and informally with friends.
Since he retired several years ago, Paul had worked part-time at Smolak Farm in N. Andover as a tractor driver for hayrides, a docent and a builder and repairman.
He is survived by his sister, Elaine Sylvester, of Peekskill, NY, in addition to his wife and son.
A memorial and celebration of life service will be held for Paul in the spring. The Douglass Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home in Reading is handling the arrangements. Details will be provided closer to the service date.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168, by phone to 1-800-525-4669, or at www.dana-farber.org/give in Paul’s name.
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