Paul F. Tierney

Paul F. Tierney SOUTH DENNIS Paul F. Tierney of South Dennis, 69 years young, passed away on January 6, 2010, following a brief battle with cancer. The son of the late Raymond and Shirley (Alexander) Tierney, Paul was born and raised in Wayland, where Paul was a star athlete and played on Waylands undefeated football teams of the late 1950s. Following graduation in 1960, Paul joined the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam as an Army specialist assigned to Headquarters Company of the 18th Airborne Corps as a paratrooper. He received the Army Air Medal and Armed Forces Expedition Medal in recognition of his service. Upon returning from the service, Paul was pursuing a college education while a part-time police officer and a volunteer firefighter for the town of Wayland, when, at the age of 25, Paul was one of two survivors of a multiple fatality automobile crash. He was hospitalized for several months. He fought back courageously and was able to resume a full life despite traumatic brain injury. He went on to study at Curry College, was a court officer for Framingham District Court, and made a bid for Wayland selectman in 1974. Paul settled on the Cape in the late 1970s, living in Brewster and Dennis. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America. He is survived by his beloved sister, Shirley (Tierney) Horan of Marlborough, and his brother Joseph and his wife, Louise, of South Yarmouth. In addition, Uncle Paul will be missed by seven nieces, two nephews, and many grand and great nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, January 19 at 10 a.m. at Saint John the Evangelist Church, 841 Shore Road, Pocasset. Burial followed at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.