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Paul Albert Cyr | December 30, 2016 | Obituary

Paul Albert Cyr
December 30, 2016 | Obituary

photo of Paul Albert Cyr
photo of Paul Albert Cyr

Paul Albert Cyr, 66, of North Kingstown, died peacefully on December 30, 2016. He is the husband of Gail Hallock Cyr. Born in New Bedford, MA and raised in Acushnet, MA, he was the son of Albert Levi Cyr and Cecile Rita (Tetreault) Cyr.

Paul Cyr was the Head of the Genealogy Department and Special Collections at the New Bedford Free Public Library where he worked for over 30 years until his retirement. As a librarian, he helped his patrons research their families, organized lectures and exhibitions, and provided resources to writers and researchers on New Bedford and its environs. Under his direction, the Genealogy Department grew as he extended the collection.  

Paul was known for his extensive knowledge of local New Bedford history. He was a popular writer and lecturer on that subject as well as on genealogy. Paul had read and indexed  every New Bedford newspaper from the first one published in 1792 until the end of the 19th century. His special interest in Acadian genealogy led him to write articles and publish research on Acadian deportees in the 18th century.

Paul's favorite activity in the whole world was reading; his second was buying books. He would enter a bookstore and come out with an armload. He was a voracious reader and the subjects he read varied widely - philosophy, history, the arts, literature; whatever piqued his interest. His inquisitive mind retained everything and he would tell compelling stories about what he read. His love of books extended to their repair and creation as he was an expert bookbinder.

Paul's memberships included the Acadian Cultural Society and the American Printing History Association as well as many museums. He enjoyed all music from opera to early blues singers. With his wife Gail he traveled world wide where his curiosity and studies led to many interesting forays.

Paul enjoyed conversation and telling interesting historic anecdotes. He had a subtle sense of humor and would quietly and unexpectedly deliver a pithy and very funny joke joining the threads of the conversation together.

Paul held a Master of Library Science and a Master of English Literature from the University of Rhode Island and a BA from Providence College.

Paul's companionship, intelligence, wit and gentle manner will be missed by his wife, Gail, and his family and friends. He leaves his brother Tom Cyr of Acushnet, MA, his sister Louise Porter and her husband John of Goffstown, NH and their children Gabe and Johanna and their spouses and children, and also his sister Jeannine Gluck and her husband Emery of Lebanon, CT and their children Ben and Jake.

A wake will be held Friday, January 6, 2017 from 4:00-7:00PM at THE CRANSTON-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME of WICKFORD, 140 West Main Street, Wickford Village, North Kingstown, RI. A memorial ceremony will be held at a later date at the Seamans Bethel in New Bedford.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Paul's memory can be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association 
https://www.lbda.org/donate 
or Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc., 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.

Arrangements have been entrusted to The Cranston-Murphy Funeral Home of Wickford.

 

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Paul Albert Cyr, 66, of North Kingstown, died peacefully on December 30, 2016. He is the husband of Gail Hallock Cyr. Born in New Bedford, MA and raised in Acushnet, MA, he was the son of Albert Levi Cyr and Cecile Rita (Tetreault) Cyr.

Paul Cyr was the Head of the Genealogy Department and Special Collections at the New Bedford Free Public Library where he worked for over 30 years until his retirement. As a librarian, he helped his patrons research their families, organized lectures and exhibitions, and provided resources to writers and researchers on New Bedford and its environs. Under his direction, the Genealogy Department grew as he extended the collection.  

Paul was known for his extensive knowledge of local New Bedford history. He was a popular writer and lecturer on that subject as well as on genealogy. Paul had read and indexed  every New Bedford newspaper from the first one published in 1792 until the end of the 19th century. His special interest in Acadian genealogy led him to write articles and publish research on Acadian deportees in the 18th century.

Paul's favorite activity in the whole world was reading; his second was buying books. He would enter a bookstore and come out with an armload. He was a voracious reader and the subjects he read varied widely - philosophy, history, the arts, literature; whatever piqued his interest. His inquisitive mind retained everything and he would tell compelling stories about what he read. His love of books extended to their repair and creation as he was an expert bookbinder.

Paul's memberships included the Acadian Cultural Society and the American Printing History Association as well as many museums. He enjoyed all music from opera to early blues singers. With his wife Gail he traveled world wide where his curiosity and studies led to many interesting forays.

Paul enjoyed conversation and telling interesting historic anecdotes. He had a subtle sense of humor and would quietly and unexpectedly deliver a pithy and very funny joke joining the threads of the conversation together.

Paul held a Master of Library Science and a Master of English Literature from the University of Rhode Island and a BA from Providence College.

Paul's companionship, intelligence, wit and gentle manner will be missed by his wife, Gail, and his family and friends. He leaves his brother Tom Cyr of Acushnet, MA, his sister Louise Porter and her husband John of Goffstown, NH and their children Gabe and Johanna and their spouses and children, and also his sister Jeannine Gluck and her husband Emery of Lebanon, CT and their children Ben and Jake.

A wake will be held Friday, January 6, 2017 from 4:00-7:00PM at THE CRANSTON-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME of WICKFORD, 140 West Main Street, Wickford Village, North Kingstown, RI. A memorial ceremony will be held at a later date at the Seamans Bethel in New Bedford.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Paul's memory can be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association 
https://www.lbda.org/donate 
or Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc., 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.

Arrangements have been entrusted to The Cranston-Murphy Funeral Home of Wickford.

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140 West Main Street
North Kingstown, Rhode Island 02852

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