Paul Stanley St. John

Paul Stanley St. John, 86, of Cohasset passed away on April 27, 2017, after having suffered deteriorating health over the past few years. Paul was the beloved son of Stanley and Anna St. John. He is survived by his wife Joan St. John, his children Brian and his wife Molly St. John, Brendan and his wife Stephanie St. John, Mark St. John and Martin St. John along with many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Paul is predeceased by two children, a son, Gregory St. John, and a daughter, Julia St. John. After high school Paul was drafted into the U.S Army to serve in the Korean War which earned him the Combat Infantry’s Badge for his duty on Pork Chop Hill. He returned home to settle in Cohasset where he raised his family in the cove area of the harbor in a home and neighborhood he loved dearly. Paul was extremely proud of his family lineage and Irish heritage which stretched back to the 1840s in Cohasset. He often spoke of his ancestor who survived the infamous Brig St. John shipwreck on Grampus Ledge off Cohasset’s coast in 1849. He was a well-known figure head in town having operated Paul’s Sunoco on the corner South Main Street throughout the 1960s, which, what would become for many Cohasset teenagers, a legendary high school hang out. As such, Paul became somewhat of a father figure to many of the town’s youth and the stories and memories of those years have been passed down through the generations to become that of Cohasset folklore. Some of his happiest moments were sharing stories of the hijinks that happened at the station or around town during those years. To this day, they bring a belly laugh to those who experienced it. His dedication to the younger generation also extended to coaching Cohasset Little League Baseball for which he thoroughly enjoyed for 30 years. No one could ever mistake his love of the game and especially his diehard allegiance to the Boston Red Sox.  After having run the Sunoco station he went to work for General Dynamics in Quincy, MA as a shipbuilder and rigging engineer for 20 years. His career also involved the building of the Callahan and Sumner tunnels in Boston as well as the mid-cape highway and many of the seawalls and breakwaters along the coast. In his retirement he spent winters in Florida and became a beach bum while making new friends and acquaintances wherever he went. During the warmer months, back home, he could often be found holding court at French Memories Bakery in the village. He will forever be remembered as a father, husband, coach, an original part of “old Cohasset” and a man of true warmth and character. Even in his declining years Paul always found a way to make a person smile and laugh no matter what the situation. He led a commendable life dedicated to his family and friends who will miss him dearly but never forget him. Friends and family will gather for a memorial mass to celebrate Paul on Friday, May 12 at 10am in St. Anthony’s Church, Cohasset followed by a reception at the Lightkeepers Residence. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bancroft Hall, Cohasset Lightkeepers Residence, 15 Lighthouse Ln. Cohasset MA 02025.

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