Obituary of Paul Salvatore Strati

LINK to funeral service

Click on the link (above) to connect to our facebook page (sign in is NOT required) adn view a live-stream of the funeral service.  Live-stream will begin a few minutes before noon on Friday, March 17th.

Paul Salvatore Strati, an engineer and World War II veteran, passed away on March 11, at the age of 98. Paul was born to his parents Joseph and Mary (Tutela) Strati in East Boston. Paul attended Boston English High School and graduated early in April of 1943, due to the draft. Paul joined a unit of the US Army Air Corps where he was a sergeant and was stationed throughout the United States. Paul worked hard from the home front as a crew chief on the P-47 also known as “The Jug.” He also worked on a Boeing B-17, otherwise known as the “Flying Fortress.” Paul was sergeant in command of seven planes and a thirteen man crew. His favorite plane that he worked on was a P-47 known as “The Screwball.”

After the war ended, Paul and Brother Vic opened a produce shop named S & S Produce. Paul was introduced to Esther Volpicelli by Esther’s cousin. The two dated, got married and lived in Somerville where they started a family. They welcomed their two children, Paul ad Dianne. Paul went back to school to further his education and pursue a career in engineering. It took eight years of night school to graduate from Boston University in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

In 1960, the two left Somerville for new opportunities in Burlington, MA. Esther’s mother said that they were moving out to the country side. That didn’t stop them from buying what would become their forever home in Burlington. Paul worked using his engineering degree at High Voltage. He worked with Van de Graaff generators, the apparatus that is most notability seen at the Museum of Science.

Paul was extremely proud of his Italian heritage. His parents both emigrated from Italy before he was born and raised in East Boston. Paul made sure to keep many family traditions going including making cappelletti, an Italian pasta with meat filling, for Easter every year. The cappelletti were always accompanied by Italian music and some nice red wine. Paul loved to make wine too and passed his insight on to his son and grandson. Paul used his green thumb to grow more than grapes. He was always hard at work tending to his garden. He grew various fruits and vegetables and most proud of his wide assortment of tomatoes. He scoffed at his son-in-law Jay when Jay said he was going to drop the operation down to just 20 plants, and said that he was slacking. Paul was featured on Burlington’s Garden Club show “Burlington Blooms” with his son Paul.

Paul loved to spend time with family and friends. He was always his kids and grandkids’ biggest cheerleader. Everyone knew when Pop was at the game when he blew into his trademark slide whistle. Paul hosted an annual 4^th of July party, famous for its competitive horseshoe tournament. Paul fashioned one of his old bowling trophies into a horseshoe trophy by replacing the bowling ball with a horseshoe.

When Paul wasn’t looking after his garden or in the bleachers, he could be found in his workshop. His workshop was part “fix it shop” and a place where he creating crafts that he shared with friends and family. He also loved to watch the Patriots, Red Sox and other Boston sports teams. As good as the teams and players have been over the years, Ted Williams was always his favorite for how he played the game and carried himself.

Paul was the loving husband of the late Esther Strati (Volpicelli). He was the beloved father of Dianne Sherburne and her husband Jay of Burlington, and the late Paul J. Strati and his wife Carol of Burlington. He was the proud grandfather of Mark Strati and his wife Colleen of Billerica, Kristina Tamas and her husband Matt of Lexington, SC, Stephanie Weygand and her husband Michael of Burlington, Brandon Sherburne and his wife Vickie of New Boston, NH, and Janelle Sherburne of Woburn. He was the caring great grandfather of Cailyn & Paul Strati, Peter, Ashley, and Savanna Tamas, Jolene & Dominic Weygand, and Dean Sherburne. Paul is preceded in death by his four brothers, Mike, Victor, and Pat Salemme and Clem Strati.

Visiting hours for Paul will be held on Thursday, March 16, from 4 to 7pm, at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803. A funeral service for Paul will be held on Friday, March 17^th, at noon at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, followed by a burial at Chestnut Hill, 52 Bedford Street, Burlington.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org

For online guestbook, video tribute, obituary and service information, visit www.sullivanfuneralhome.net.