Paul Lindale

Paul Lindale 1965–2026

Paul Lindale, 60, passed away with his son, Jude, by his side on Sunday, Feb. 15, at his home in Bucksport, Maine, after navigating ALS since 2017. Previously, Paul lived in Northfield, Mass., for 25 years in a three-story house that he lovingly painted himself, often hanging out of the windows to get the high spots and freaking out the neighbors in the process. He also painstakingly hand-painted almost every room in the house in vibrant colors with a special sponge technique.

Paul was born on Dec. 6, 1965, to Peter and Joan Lindale in Wallasey, England. He was the first of three children. In Liverpool, Paul attended Lister Infant and Primary schools, West Derby School, and Liverpool John Moores University, where he earned a BFA from Liverpool College of Arts.

Growing up, Paul held a special place in his family. He was the quiet, sensible one, the one his younger siblings looked up to. He was steady and thoughtful with a dry, witty sense of humor. He also had a quirky fashion sense and a deep love of art, which was part of his charm. Paul loved photography and long walks in the English countryside with his brother, David, and those quiet moments, camera at the ready, were some of his happiest-capturing the world the way he saw it. Paul loved movies, often staying up far too late, drifting off to sleep on the couch while the credits rolled. No matter how many times he nodded off before the ending, he'd insist he was still watching.

Paul was confident, and would answer questions with such self-assurance that people took his words as gospel-until realizing later that his certainty was rooted in enthusiasm rather than real evidence. These "Paul Lindale facts," as they came to be known, were pure Paul: warm, playful, and endlessly endearing. Also endless was Paul's legendary appetite, which earned him the title "human waste disposal unit" from his Uncle Eric. Paul could eat enough for a family of three and still have room for dessert, all while somehow staying slim.

He went on to earn an MFA in 1994 from Massachusetts College of Art & Design (MassArt), where he met his wife Sharon. They married in 1994. Paul went on to teach at MassArt and Westfield State University before joining the Art Department at Greenfield Community College (GCC) in 1999. That same year, he and Sharon welcomed their daughter, Emma, and moved to Northfield. Their son, Jude, was born in 2001.

Over the years, Paul filmed his children endlessly, making annual Christmas videos to send to his family in England. He spent vacations with a video camera in hand, gathering material for future artwork. Paul was a lover of red wine and dark chocolate, and it would be hard to forget his extravagant collection of Doc Martens.

At home, Paul cooked dinner every night for his family-his chicken pasta and curries were favorites. He patiently helped Emma and Jude with their homework, and was known to occasionally help a little too much. He loved literature, amassing a considerable library over the years, and Emma fondly remembers her dad reading her bedtime stories and later helping her interpret Shakespeare.

Paul's appreciation of visual creations included video games, and at a young age, Jude found that he shared his father's interest. While Paul played, Jude would sit on the floor watching intently. When he noticed his dad getting stuck, Jude asked if he could try, and usually proceeded to help Paul navigate the obstacle. Their shared love of video games evolved into a traditional activity during the times when they were home alone.

At GCC, Paul's tenure spanned 24 years, including 12 years as Art Department chair. He was a deeply respected and visionary educator who developed the Computer Arts curriculum within the Fine Arts program. He went far above and beyond in his roles as instructor and leader, and was a tireless advocate for students. "Paul always centered the work he did with students through his dedication, grace and great sense of humor," said Jen Simms, current chair of the GCC Art Department. Paul brought his knowledge and concern regarding climate change and human existence into the classroom and encouraged his students to address their own political, social, and personal concerns in their art. GCC honored Paul with Emeritus status in 2024.

Paul was passionate about helping other artists share their work publicly. He helped launch an annual GCC student art exhibit each spring, and also Art on Campus, which exhibits student and faculty artwork in public spaces on the GCC campus. He also collaborated with Westfield State University to coordinate student and faculty exhibitions, and participated in GCC faculty exhibits at UMass Amherst. He played a central role in creating the multi-day Brick + Mortar International Video Art Festival, which brought indoor and outdoor video art installations and performances to Greenfield, Mass.

As a video and digital artist, Paul maintained a rigorous interdisciplinary practice, exploring ideas of environmental change in relation to the Anthropocene (The Age of Man). His work has been exhibited around the world, and his portfolio remains available at plindale.com. In recent years, he wrote poetry, chronicling his life through five self-published books.

At his core, Paul was a man of faith. His Christian beliefs formed the foundation of his character and guided the way he moved through the world. They shaped the morals he upheld, the compassion he extended to others, the humility with which he carried himself, and the deep desire he had to care for those around him. Paul expressed his faith quietly and consistently in the way he lived: it was there in his patience, his gentleness, and the love he showed to his family and friends.

Paul will be dearly missed by his wife, Sharon; his children, Emma and Jude; his daughter-in-law, Beth; his parents, Joan and Peter; his siblings, David and Sue; and Sue's partner, Kevin Hall. Paul is also survived by his aunt, Brenda Carson; his cousin, Kevin Carson; and his cousin-in-law, Sarah Carson. Paul was preceded in death by his uncles, Steven Carson and Eric Lindale, and his parents-in-law, Frances Davis and Robert LaBella.

His family thanks the staff at Pioneer Valley Hospice & Palliative Care of Greenfield, Mass., for caring for Paul in his last two-plus years, and the staff at Gentiva Hospice of Bangor, Maine, who cared for him during the last four months of his life. Paul so appreciated all the nurses and certified nursing assistants. No one was welcome to change his shirt except for his favorite nursing assistants-Karri, Sharon, and Saylor. His nurses, Kerri and Katrina, provided so much gentle guidance, and Alice helped the entire family navigate each new obstacle that arose as Paul's ALS progressed.

There will be a moment of celebration at GCC's South Gallery during the 2026 ArtsNight, which will take place on Thursday, April 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. Paul loved this annual GCC art show and would be so happy to have his friends and family see the students' work. There will also be a private celebration of life in Liverpool, England, next winter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul's name to The ALS Association.