Paul Daddona

Daddona, Paul R.
Paul R Daddona, a Stamford native of 83 years, died gently with family Wed. Nov. 4th.
As a young boy, he worked on McCullough's farm, now residential Dolphin Cove. Said he never expected then, as a first generation Italian-American, on Beal St., gathering chicken eggs, to find himself living there late in his life.
Paul attended Stamford High and an accounting school then on Bedford St.
Then, serving in the National Guard, sworn into the Army, he was stationed in Bad Tolz, Germany, during the Korean War. He was kidnapped into East Germany, imprisoned and tortured, but escaped from prison in winter, walking barefoot for days back to his 192nd's base.
Back in Stamford, he, with his family, began working in real estate, rescuing 10 houses from demolition, moving them from the route planned for I95 with the rig he made with Compo Bros., using airplane wheels. The houses still stand in Stamford and Old Greenwich.
In the late 60's, Paul became interested in Polycast, a manufacturing plant on Southfield Ave, then in bankruptcy. Working as President under the Trustee, with only a small group of men, a practice he believed in, he created new processes to cast thick acrylic sheets then unavailable, for the government. The company became successful, and listed on the American Stock Exchange.. He held over 32 patents for different stages of the process, in his name for the company.
Over the years, many came to Paul for advice on problems ranging from mechanical trouble to emotional or financial problems. He liked helping people he met, and often used his creativity to offer some surprising solutions.
With a lifelong interest in research, Paul suffered lately from an unusual form of Alzheimers, Frontal Lobe Dementia, but luckily, always recognized his family. He donated his brain to a Columbia Presbyterian unit that specializes in FTD.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Dianne Daddona, his brother, Anthony Daddona, his stepson, Scott Blake, his son Paul Daddona Jr and his daughter, Elizabeth Ingrassia, from an early marriage, two nephews and a niece, Carl, Anthony and Cynthia Daddona, one granddaughter, two step grandchildren and a grand nephew and niece. Paul's deceased parents, Biaggio Daddona and Francesca Vitti, were both Italian immigrants; Biaggio settling first in Oakville Ct., Francesca in New Canaan. They met in a Stamford English class.
Memorial services will be held at the Unitarian Church, 20 Forest St, Stamford, 06901, at 11:00am Friday Nov. 20. (The church faces into the small Bedford Park, looking across to the Avon Theater.) A reception will follow. Public garage parking, on Forest, is across from the side of the church.
Those who prefer charity gifts to flowers may write a check to the Trustees of Columbia University, in memory of Paul Daddona, mailed to Columbia University, Office of Development, Alzheimer and FTD Research, 100 Haven Ave.., NY, NY 10032, att: Arlene Lawton