Paul M. Gulielmetti

GULIELMETTI, Paul M. Paul Gulielmetti, 58, practiced real estate law in New York City for the past 30 years. He was a partner with Gulielmetti & Gesmer, P.C. and most recently, Gulielmetti Levinson, P.C. A dedicated defender of the oppressed in the early years of his career he enthusiastically provided good legal work for the poor as an employee of South Brooklyn Legal Services. His legal career took him to the neighborhoods of West Village, Soho and Tribecca where he defended many artists and tenants – many of who owe their homes to him today. In addition to being a hard worker, Paul was never afraid to try innovative and courageous responses to the legal challenges that he tackled. Early in Paul's law career he was a tenant renting an apartment in a five story brownstone in the Soho district of N.Y. Confronted with a landlord who was a tyrant, Paul's neighbors collectively sought his legal assistance to deal with their landlord who was raising rents and not making necessary improvements in the building. Paul took the case. On Paul's advice everyone ceased paying rent to the landlord; instead, the monthly rents were escrowed. Paul also did a search on the building and much to his surprise, discovered that the landlord had lost the building to the City of New York a dozen years before for failure to pay property taxes. Upon learning this, the ecstatic tenants, including Paul, purchased their respective units from the City of New York for pennies on the dollar. Approximately 20 years ago, Paul purchased a small farmhouse in the Catskills area of New York. In need of work, it became Paul's home away from home as he meticulously cleared the lot and upgraded the farmhouse to a comfortable status. Paul loved the great outdoors and all it offered him. He had an undying affection for both the trees he saved and the new ones he planted. Many of these trees were initially cuttings taken from his childhood home in Portland. He was truly blessed with a green thumb. When asked once how a recently struggling, transplanted chestnut tree of his had recovered so quickly, he simply said it was lonely and needed someone to talk to. Paul had planted two new chestnut trees nearby the once struggling one and that was all that was needed. Paul adored the apple orchard that he had planted. It numbered about 14 or 15 different apple trees. Paul would proudly identify each of the different species as he guided you through it. He loved the new tree growth and the new apples each new year brought. In addition, Paul maintained a small, neat and productive vegetable garden in the Catskills each and every year. He always planted various types of onions, garlic, tomatoes, etc. All of which he employed for another great love of his – cooking! Simply put, he was an amazing cook. He even equipped his Catskills farmhouse kitchen with an industrial sized gas stove and oven. His salads always tasted better than any you had ever tasted, with just the right amount of virgin olive oil, vinegar and seasoning. He was a master at making a superb pasta dish. If fresh mushrooms were part of the sauce that day, he would go find some wearing his special "mushroom hunting" hat. With his trained eye, he learned over the years which mushrooms were safe to eat and which were not! For dessert, fresh homemade apple pie from scratch. Paul had many other loves. He liked to work with his hands. He loved to dine at Forlini's Restaurant at 93 Baxter Street in New York City. He had a love for the arts and had a small art collection of his own. He loved to beat his two brothers in an Italian card game called Briscola, as well as badminton on his homemade Catskills court. Paul was a gifted story teller with a sense of humor that served him well when telling a story. He enjoyed searching for different types of fine red wine and then enjoying them with a good meal. Raised in Portland, Paul graduated from Portland High School in 1957. From there he went on to Willimantic State Teachers College, where he was elected president of the student council during his senior year. He enjoyed playing the saxophone during his college years. He subsequently attended and graduated from Case Western Law School in Cleveland, OH. Paul leaves his wife Leslie Miller, as well as his two sons, Gabriele and Jack, all of N.Y. City, his two brothers, Philip of Becket, MA and John of Boston, MA. There will be a memorial service on Sunday, March 12th, 2006 at The Drawing Center in Soho, New York. To few people's surprise, Paul has asked that his ashes be buried in his beloved Catskills apple orchard. Paul's presence will be greatly missed by so many friends and relatives. So we have arranged for a New York Times obituary guest book in Paul's memory be left open indefinitely. Please feel free to view it and add your favorite memories of Paul, from time to time. You may visit the guest book through the following internet link: http://www. legacy.com/Link.asp?ID= GB16126824 Gifts/donations in Paul's memory may be sent to the Trey Whitfield School Foundation, 60 Williams Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207.