FREDERICK S. PAULSEN

1932 - 2025

PAULSEN, Frederick S. Lawyer and Belmont Advocate Frederick Sindre Paulsen was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 14,1932, and died in Minneapolis, on August 15, 2025. He was 92 years old. Fred is survived by his wife, Anne Paulsen (Looney); and four children, Julia Paulsen Mullin and Emmett Mullin, Andrew Paulsen and Emilie Paulsen Braz, Abigail and Todd Herman, Frederick Paulsen and Isabella Poulos; and grandchildren, Louisa, Ella, Margaret, Charles, Madeline, Nathan, Samuel, Matthéo and Timothée. Fred is survived by his sister, Lucinda Gorry; and his brother, James Paulsen (Susan); and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marie Gray (Hollis). Son of Phyllis and Thorwald Paulsen, Fred grew up in Belmont, MA. He graduated from Belmont High School (1950), Harvard College (1954) and Harvard Law School (1957), and served in the National Guard for seven years. He and Anne were married for 61 years. Fred had a long career in law. He directed the Associated Foundations of Greater Boston; worked for the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Model Cities program in Roxbury; and served as general counsel for the MA Department of Public Works. He started his own law practice in 1979 with an office at 164 State Street, joined the firm of Greenman, Grossman, and Duffy, and then Burns and Levinson, where he practiced for 25 years, creatively solving complex environmental and land use matters. His ever-calm demeanor served his clients well. A constant for Fred was his daily bicycle commute to downtown Boston, which he did for 40 years. Fred was passionate about the community of Belmont. He was a member of the School Committee from 1961-1970 and served as an elected Town Meeting member for 62 years. He relished his role as captain of Precinct 1 and there were few activities he enjoyed more than door knocking for a candidate or an issue. Fred enthusiastically supported Anne's career as a Selectman and State Representative. Fred and Anne opened their home at 90 School Street for meetings and were a hub for organizing, always welcoming new neighbors. Fred provided volunteer legal counsel to the Mystic River Watershed Association for many years, volunteered with the Human Services Coalition, and was a long-time tour leader for Boston by Foot. He delighted in Boston's historic high water mark and the architectural details of original buildings downtown. Fred taught his children to bike, hike, canoe, sail, and play tennis. The family sailed on Follins Pond, swam at Chapin Beach, and for Fred, sandcastle building with his grandchildren was an an exercise in engineering. He loved to ride the T with his family, take them to the Peabody Museum, hike to Rock Meadow, play tennis whenever possible, and draw the world around him. Visits to see his children in Telluride, Poitiers, and Minneapolis made him happy. He was kind, generous, conversational, and had a beautiful friendly smile. A Service to Celebrate Fred's Life will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at All Saints Episcopal Church, in Belmont, MA, at 11:00 am. Memorial contributions in honor of Fred may be made to the Mystic River Watershed Association, www.mysticriver.org the Episcopal City Mission, www.episcopalmission.org and Catholic Charities www.crs.org

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