Paul John Gacek was born in New Britain, Ct. to the late Mary (Kochanowicz) Gacek and the late John Jacob Gacek on June 29,1945. He grew up in Berlin, CT. He attended Berlin High School and graduated in 1963. Paul was the first in the history of the school to be awarded a national merit scholarship. He went on to earn his BA in music history from Yale University in New Haven. While at Yale he was the founder, first president and Principal Violinist of the Yale Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Gacek studied orchestral conducting with Gustav Meier. Upon graduation Paul moved to New Haven. He served as Musical Director for many theatrical productions in the New Haven area, at the Yale Dramatic Association and Southbury Playhouse. He worked in Admissions for Yale New Haven from 1970 to 1988 and worked as a Technical Programming Specialist for the Yale New Haven Health System from 1989 to 2007. He was an accomplished scuba diver, a member of the Fairfield County Diving Association, serving as its treasurer and an avid wreck diver and videographer. Paul served as Music Director for the Hamden Symphony Orchestra from 1969 to 2007 and continued as Conductor Laureate. Paul is survived by his brother Daniel Christopher Gacek a.k.a. Christopher Daniels of New York City and Asbury Park, NJ., Aniela (Gacek) Misteri, his Aunt, of Berlin CT. and numerous cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, John J. Gacek and his mother Mary (Kochanowicz) Gacek. Funeral service will be held Wednesday January 6th at 1:00PM at the Farrell Funeral Home 110 Franklin Sq. New Britain. Reverend John Granato of St. Katharine Drexel Parish will be officiating. Burial will be private in Sacred Heart Cemetery in New Britain, CT. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Yale Symphony Orchestra. c/o Yale University, Office of Development-Contributions Processing, P.O.Box 2038, New Haven, CT 06521-2038. To send a condolence please visit, www.FarrellFuneralHome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Hartford Courant on Jan. 4, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Paul Gacek

Sponsored by the family.

9 Entries

Cathy Zack

July 28, 2021

Dear Daniel and family,
We are saddened to learn of Paul´s passing. We first met him in about 1988 as members of the Hamden Symphony. Paul was such a talented conductor and ever the optimist that he could coax us meager amateurs through symphonic works well over our heads. We have fond memories of his quick wit and infinite patience. At one point I kept a list of his one-liners. We had fun hanging out for an hour or so after rehearsals at the Town House restaurant. We were amazed when in mid-life he took up scuba diving ( I was frankly worried for his health!) and pursued that as avidly as he did his music. We were able to view the beautiful videos he created of his dives. We remember celebrating his 50th birthday and how many interesting people were there from his work, music, and diving. He was someone who lived every day to its fullest. My favorite line of his was " youth is wasted on the young". He was young at heart even as his body aged. I am sorry that we didn´t know he was ill, in retrospect we should have worried when there was an interruption in the weekly joke postings, but we just assumed he´d gone scuba diving on a long trip. We hope his last days were comfortable. We had the opportunity to meet you once and knew immediately that although you were very different from each other you shared your skill in the arts and your special sibling bond and love. We wish we had posted this sooner, we have thought of Paul often. Peace, Cathy Zack and John Holahan

Deb Z.

January 6, 2021

Paul will be missed by all. He was our “Go To “person for the Finance Division’s “Employee of the Month” program. Paul was very faithful on attending all the events and his collage of picture was always worth looking forward to. Paul’s incredible knowledge, dry sense of humor and endearing friendship will be missed.
Rest in Peace . Miss you !!!

Karen White

January 5, 2021

I enjoyed and appreciated Paul at the Hamden Symphony Orchestra. His humor, knowledge, skill and direction was superb!!

Karen (Bruce) White

Charles Torre

January 5, 2021

Paul will be missed. He was the lifeline between YNHH and the Finance Division Retiree Group who met for lunch to discuss good times past, I remember Paul leading the YNHH chorale group during the Holidays. He was always there when help was needed.
Rest in peace.

Joan and Mitchell Rodofsky

January 4, 2021

saddened to learn of Paul's passing.....so glad we have many fond memories.....Joan & Mitchell Rodofsky

Joan and Mitchell Rodofsky

January 4, 2021

We have known Paul since his days at the Jewish Community Center Theater Guild in the late 1960s....our paths crossed in 1976 when I went to work at YNHH.....joining a group of YNHH retirees when he retired enjoyed lunches with Paul....he had a dry sense of humor that only Paul could deliver with ease.....all of his current events and weather reports have already been missed....thankful for all of our fond memories...Joan and Mitchell Rodofsky

Mike Cassetta

January 4, 2021

Paul will be dearly missed. He was the cornerstone of our dive club, FCDA.

Susan Paisley

January 3, 2021

So sorry to hear this. Paul was a fantastic conductor at Hamden Symphony orchestra.

Farrell Funeral Home

January 4, 2021

Our sincere sympathies for your loss.

Showing 1 - 9 of 9 results