Obituary: Paul J. Musachio, 81, of Guilford

Obituary courtesy of Guilford Funeral Home:

Paul J. Musachio passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 23, 2021 surrounded by his immediate family in his home in Guilford, CT.

Loving husband to Olga Kwasny Musacchio for over 54 years, Paul was father to Nina Alexandra Keeley and Katya Helena Musacchio, and beloved “Gaggi” to Alexander Keeley. Born to the late Joseph Musacchio and Tatiana Gamberger Musacchio on December 14, 1939 in Astoria, Queens. Paul spent most of his early youth in Los Angeles, CA. He is predeceased by his sister, Maria Defini, and his cousin Marina Bizzarri. He is survived by his wife, Olga Musacchio, his daughter, Nina Alexandra Keeley, his daughter, Katya Helena Musacchio , his son-in-law, Keats Keeley, his grandson Alexander Keeley, his cousin, Leonora Bizzarri, and three nieces, Lisa Corbett, Karen O’Brien, and Stephanie Everoski.

Paul enlisted in the US Air Force shortly after he graduated from Van Nuys High School in Los Angeles, CA, and was stationed in Morocco as an Air Force policeman. During his time in the former French protectorate, Paul enjoyed working as a liaison between the local population and US servicemen. It was during his time in the service in Morocco that he developed a lifetime passion and love for the French language, history, and culture. Paul attended Queens College on the GI bill, where he studied music and French language.

The love story worthy of a Hollywood screenplay also unfolded during his college years. Paul and his future wife Olga, met on a student ship bound for France for their junior year abroad programs. Paul would later share his first impressions of Olga, 7 years his junior, noting “she was a knock-out, but also a bit of a twit” and Olga would quickly respond with “he was so cool…but also incredibly arrogant and aloof!”

Both would end up living in the same rent-controlled apartment building in New York City. They were married on September 8, 1967 at the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church in Williamsburg, NYC. Paul and Olga would often fondly recount those first years of marriage in which Paul introduced Olga to his love for classical music while Olga would introduce him to all things French and the young couple enjoyed life on the Upper East Side of NYC.

Paul and Olga moved to Guilford, CT in 1971 when Paul was admitted to Yale University’s graduate program in French Literature. While Paul’s love for the French language continued to flourish, he was also able to indulge his love for building and working with his hands through his remodeling of the young family’s new home in Tuttle’s Point on the Guilford Shoreline.

In 1987, Paul accompanied Olga who was working on a Rockefeller research grant in France. In the course of their travels in Southern France, Paul discovered French Catalonia. He was immediately enamored with the region and decided that this would be his Summer home. Paul and Olga spent their summers and early retired years in their village house in Laroque-des-Alberes, introducing their girls to French life and entertaining friends. Village life included hiking in the Pyrenees, concerts, local festivals, swimming in the Mediterranean and hiking portions of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage walk.

In the early 1990s, while in France, Paul also developed a passion for windsurfing. Always a daredevil, Paul found himself stranded one afternoon on Faulkner’s Island, to his wife’s dismay, and, luckily, was rescued by local boaters!

Paul’s joy for music was also something that continued throughout his life, his daughters recall often drifting to sleep in the evenings to the sound of their father playing classical piano. As is often the case with Francophiles, Paul also enjoyed dabbling in the culinary arts — spending hours on Sunday in the kitchen testing new NY Times recipes or concocting his own delicious creations!

Paul was also an animal lover, and, after some reluctance, grew to share his wife and daughter’s affection for the pug breed. In his retired years, Paul was often seen walking their black pug, Bruno, in downtown Guilford. Bruno and Paul would head to the Guilford train station where they would greet evening commuters returning home from work. They were quite the pair!

Paul was a playful man and enjoyed spending time with his young grandson, Alex, often impersonating Donald Duck, prompting giggles of joy from him. His sharp wit, intelligence and humor was legendary and all who knew him well enjoyed his company.

Paul was a warm, non-judgmental soul who taught his children to value all people. He will be forever loved by his family and friends.

Friends may call on Thursday, October 28th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street in Guilford. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org. Burial services will be private