Staff
Thursday, March 27, 2014 5:45 am

Paul Douglas Dexter, born in Gloucester, Mass., on March 22, 1942, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2014 at his home in Rochester, New Hampshire.

He was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Eleanor Dexter, and his sister, Norma Dexter. Paul is survived by his loving wife, Alice Dexter of Rochester, his daughter Heidi Lynne Dexter of Haverhill, Mass., his son Paul Douglas Dexter, Jr., daughter-in-law Katherine Dexter and his two granddaughters, Emma Dexter and Nora Dexter of North Yarmouth, Maine. He is also survived by his siblings: Judith Dexter of Walnut Creek, CA; Clark Dexter of Gloucester, Mass.; Stephen Dexter of Hamilton, Mass.; Susan Sullivan of Gloucester, Mass.; Kathleen Hurlburt of Gloucester, Mass.; Christina Rhodes of Gloucester, Mass.; Rebecca Alberti of West Lake Village, CA; Roberta Dexter of Gloucester, Mass.

Paul was a decorated Vietnam War veteran, earning two bronze stars and an oak leaf cluster. Paul enjoyed sailing, particularly in the Salem Sound area in Salem, Mass., and the Annisquam River in Gloucester, Mass. He was an avid pool player, hosting weekly pool games in his community at Tara Estates. Paul took great joy in teaching his grandchildren the simple pleasures of life such as flying kites, walking the beach, and singing in the car.

Paul proudly donated his remains to the Boston University Medical School in the hopes that it would help the medical community one day find a cure for Parkinson's disease.

Paul lived by the motto, "If we're kind to one another, we can solve the problems of the world."