Paul A. Fodor

FODOR Paul A. Fodor, age 91, of Stratford, passed away in the comfort of his home on Monday, March 16, 2009. The son of Paul and Gizella J. Fodor, he grew up in Lakewood, Ohio. Paul entered Ohio State University in 1936 and resided in the stadium Tower Club, a residence for bright students having limited funds. To earn money, he read to a blind student. Paul graduated in 1940 with honors having attained a chemical engineering degree. His senior year, he was president of the Tower Club and Tau Beta Pi honorary engineering society and was a member of Sigma Xi scientific honorary society. He served three and a half years in World War II with the Army Corps of Engineers achieving rank of Major and was awarded a Bronze Star and five battle stars. Paul was with Pittsburgh Plate Glass for 32 years. He held a variety of management positions in OH and PA which culminated in becoming vice-president of Sales, Chemical Division. In 1953, he was a loaned executive from PPG to head an Inorganic Chemicals & Agricultural Chemicals section in the US Government. In 1954, he graduated from the Harvard Advanced Management Program. Paul was enticed to join Standard Chlorine Chemical Co. in New Jersey in 1971as senior vice-president where he remained until his retirement in 1983. Upon retirement, Paul was honored by chemical industry colleagues and described as a businessman with integrity, a sense of fairness, sound business judgment and a positive attitude which set an example for all who had the opportunity to work with him. Paul was an avid golfer and played most of the tough courses across the U.S. He was a member of Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey, the Congressional Country Club in D.C., and Oronoque Country Club in Stratford. He delighted in having three holes-in-one over the years. Paul was a generous, kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be sadly missed. He is survived by his devoted wife of 25 years, Barbara D. Fodor, three loving sons, Steve and wife, Marion of R.I., Richard of New Jersey, Paul, Jr. and wife, Suzanne of New Jersey; and grandchildren, Kimberly, Alison, John Paul, Timothy and Zachary; and a brother, Dr. Richard Fodor and wife Isabelle of Arizona; three nieces and two nephews. Paul was predeceased by his former wife, Yvonne, a brother Lester, a sister Magdalene, and a granddaughter, Kathleen. Funeral services will take place Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. at Dennis & D'Arcy Funeral Home, 2611 Main St., Stratford, with the Rev. Todd Shipley officiating. Friends may call prior to the service from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. at the convenience of the family. The family expresses grateful appreciation for the extraordinary care provided to Paul in recent months by VITAS Hospice Care as well as a team of dedicated, independent caregivers - Dorothy Wilson, Denise Pearson and Carol Wagner. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made in Paul's name to the following: VITAS Hospice Care, 777 Commerce Dr., Fairfield, CT 06825 or Stratford EMS, 900 Longbrook Ave., Stratford, CT 06614.To send online condolences please visit www.dennisanddarcy.com.