Paul A. Messer
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Paul Arnold Messer, 78, a lifelong New London resident, was with family at his Pleasant Lake home when he died peacefully on September 29, as a result of Parkinson's Disease.
Paul was born on May 10, 1943, at New London Hospital, to Geraldine and Adelbert Messer, and spent his early years working on the family's dairy farm at the Four Corners. He was one of 14 classmates to graduate from New London High School in 1962, then went to technical school before serving four years in the United States Navy on the ballistic missile submarines USS Henry Clay and USS John Marshall.
Paul worked as a ski instructor for Laurie Lauridsen at King Ridge, helped build homes alongside local contractor Jim Granger, and was a longtime volunteer firefighter in New London. In 1986, he joined broker Brad White as a Realtor at White & White Real Estate, where his interest in helping people and his insistence on unwavering personal integrity came together to launch a 30-year career in the industry. He served twice as President of the Sunapee Region Board of Realtors, and twice he was honored as the Board's Realtor of the Year.
It was also through real estate that he met the woman who was to become his eternal plus-one, Linda, and together the two would share a love story that spanned more than three decades and was the very personification of St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians: "Love is patient, love is kind. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
They honored, they obeyed, for better and for worse, in sickness and in health. They protected, trusted, hoped, and persevered. They demonstrated love in a way that was quiet and humble and kind and beautiful and profound and inspiring.
In addition to skiing at King Ridge and later Ragged Mountain, Paul was a longtime member of the Lake Sunapee Yacht Club whose passions included sailing his Cape Dory, "Waterfront Listing," and firing up his twilight turquoise 1965 Mustang, which he would often drive as part of the Hospital Days Parade. He also loved his grandparents' cottage on Pleasant Lake, which was renovated beautifully by Gavin Campbell as Paul and Linda's final home together. Their happiest moments were when joined by family and friends lakeside on Bunker Road.
Paul was an eternal optimist, a salt-of-the-earth, Yankee tinkerer, and New London to his core. He will be dearly missed.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Geraldine and Adelbert. He leaves behind his wife Linda; his stepchildren and their spouses, Dave Cummings and wife Heather of Epsom, and Laura Lorio and husband Chris of New London; six grandchildren, Noah, Mason and Rosie Cummings, and Carly, Reagan and Brendan Lorio; his brother Rich Messer and wife, Ann Douden; sister Patty Aucoin; and brother Keith Messer and partner Ralph Bidgood.
Calling hours are scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13, at Chadwick Funeral Home in New London, at which masks will be required. A church service will be held at First Baptist Church of New London, Oct. 14, beginning at 11 a.m., masks also required. That will be followed by a 1 p.m. burial at Elkins Cemetery. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to: Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice, 107 Newport Road, New London, NH 03257; or Pleasant Lake Protective Association, P.O. Box 1584, New London, NH 03257.
To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.chadwickfuneralservice.com.