S. Paul Lafley

The world lost another WWII veteran on January 13, when S. Paul Lafley, age 101, passed away peacefully at his residence at Homewood at Plum Creek in Hanover, PA.   Paul was a true renaissance man.  He had impeccable manners;  a true gentleman who shared his gift of storytelling, jokes, and adventures with friends and family of all ages.

Paul was born in Enosburg Falls, VT in 1923.  He grew up in a small town surrounded by farms.  His boyhood was filled with ice skating, skiing and helping out at his grandfather’s barber shop on Main Street.  He adored his older brothers, Lyndon and Cedric, and relished in telling stories of the trials and triumphs of being the youngest. After graduating from Enosburg Falls High School, he followed his brothers into the Army, where they were serving overseas.   He trained as a machine gunner in the 63rd Infantry Division in Southern France.  As he was preparing to be deployed to Japan, the war ended.  He was then sent to Germany to work in the officer jeep maintenance area and swore he personally worked on General Eisenhower’s jeep. 

Paul readjusted to life as a civilian by moving to Baltimore, MD, for a job that was advertised in the newspaper.  His brother Cedric gave him a ride him from Vermont to Baltimore and deposited him and his one suitcase at a boarding house.  He soon met his true love there, Helen Cable, who worked in the company  office.  They enjoyed 52 years of marriage surrounded by friends and family.  They settled in a home built in the late 1700’s in My Lady’s Manor, MD.  Paul spent most of his career as an Account Executive with Peterson, Howell & Heather (PHH) in Hunt Valley, MD, and traveled all over the U.S. and Canada.  Paul and Helen loved to entertain, and he was known far and wide for his Highballs and “Lady Drinks”.  He said the difference between the two was a maraschino cherry and a splash of lime.  He also loved telling jokes, and as the perfect gentleman that he was, he had separate jokes for mixed company. 

He and Helen were given the privilege of “house sitting” for Ambassador Stuart Symington for two years.  He loved being the “lord of the manor”, overseeing the house and the staff, but declined the chauffer’s ride to work in favor of driving his own car.  He purchased a tuxedo and Helen bought a few evening gowns, and they enjoyed every minute of their stay. 

Helen passed after several years of declining health with Paul as her beloved caretaker.  After her death in 2001, he continued skiing, working as a volunteer at Ladow Gardens in Baltimore, and keeping up with family and friends.  He never let time or distance hamper his affection for loved ones. 

He remarried in 2004 to Teresa Polsiki and they moved into Homewood in Hanover.  Once again, he became a caretaker to his wife, but still found the time and energy to participate in golfing, skiing and volunteering.  He took a ski trip to Patagonia at age 90 “while the mountains were still there.”  He appreciated comic strips and often sent funny stories to his nephews with news articles.  When guests came to visit, he gave tours of the area, and once he started to use a walker, no one could keep up with him.  He made the characters in his life come alive as he shared stories of his grandparents, brothers and friends.   He was a kind, generous, and intensely loyal to those who had the privilege to know him. 

An interment will be held in the spring at St. James Episcopal Church Cemetery in Monkton, Maryland.

He is survived by his nephews, John, Peter, James, and Stephen Lafley, and their spouses.  His nieces, Jacqueline Lupac Rine, the Reverend Mollie Alexander Williams,and his great niece and loving friend, Donna Miller.  He was predeceased by his niece Mary Lou Lafley Robinson.   He also leaves behind many great-nephews and nieces and friends, and children of friends.  He always said he was privileged to know and live through seven generations in his family.  

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