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BORN
1927
DIED
2025
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Paul North Obituary
July 8, 1927 ~ January 17, 2025
Paul R. North, Jr., a retired lawyer and U.S. Navy veteran, died peacefully at home with his family in Naugatuck, Connecticut, on Jan. 17. He was 97.
Born in New Haven in 1927, North attended Hillhouse High School and graduated from Yale College in 1949 with a B.A. in Economics. In 1945, after his freshman year, he left Yale to serve in the U.S. Navy as World War II was ending. After Yale he went to UConn Law School in Hartford and interrupted his graduate education when he was called up by the Navy to serve as a Fire Controlman on a minesweeper in the Mediterranean during the Korean War years. He then returned to UConn to finish his law degree. He joined the firm of Clark, Hall & Peck in New Haven and began his life-long career in real-estate law. In later years, he and his friend and colleague Daniel H. Dennis formed the law firm Dennis & North and continued working together until their retirements. He was a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
North was predeceased by his wife, Rita Campbell North, who died in 2002. He was the son of Mary Crowley North and Paul R. North, Sr., who served as Democratic Registrar of Voters for the City of New Haven during the 1960s and 1970s. He is survived by his four children-Gwen North Reiss (Paul W. Reiss) of New Canaan, Peter D. North of Naugatuck, David A. North of Naugatuck, and Paul J. North of New Haven; four grandchildren-Eliza (Michael) Grant, Caroline (Brady) Summers, Daniel (Michaela) North, and Maggie North; and four great-grandchildren-Dylan, Henry, Maeve, and Clara.
Visiting hours will be on Fri., Jan. 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Keenan Funeral Home in West Haven, Connecticut. A private burial will be held in the spring.
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Memories and Condolences
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4 Entries
Kurt Zwick
October 22, 2025
Gwen, Peter, Dave and Paul
I am sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. As Philip said he was a gentle and kind man. My memories of time spent with your eclectic parents makes me happy. Your Mom (and my Mom) were so creative, fun, generous and kind, and your Dad was so quiet and kind. It occurred to me that perhaps your Dad and my Father shared some classes at Hillhouse as he was also born in 1927 and also attended Hillhouse. I think your Dad was several decades ahead of the rest of America and the SUV craze as I recall he drove a Jeep Wagoneer years before it became common! I know that having your Father to turn to after my Father's passing was a great relief to my Mother. I hope you all are well and wish you all good health and happiness!
Philip zwick
January 22, 2025
To the North family: I´m sorry to learn of your dad´s passing. Both he and your mom Rita were exceptionally kind and gentle people. Paul worked with my parents for estate planning prior to, and after, my dad´s demise in 1979 and he saw my mom through what was a difficult time and process.
Rick Kramer
January 21, 2025
My legal career began at Mr. North´s desk when he hired me as the "Runner/Office Boy" for Clark, Hall and Peck in the early `70s. He was a warm, considerate and knowledgeable man whose life was an example to an impressionable HS Junior. I learned about how to treat people as an attorney and as a co-worker; I learned about friendship from watching his daily interaction with his best buddy, Atty. Dan Dennis; and I learned about professionalism from watching him be one damn fine lawyer. He, and people like the late Dan Dennis, have remained with me always. Thank you, Mr. North, for your impact on my life and I´m sure the lives of many others. May you rest in the arms of our Lord; my deepest sympathies and prayers for your family.
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