McNamara and Sparrell Funeral Homes
Harold J. Paulsen
Biography
Harold J. Paulsen, of Scituate, age 84, entered into rest on March 3, 2010. Hal was born in Bethlehem, PA to Halfdan Paulsen, a marine engineer from Stavanger, Norway, and Ina Paulsen, a housewife, from Horten, Norway. Growing up, he enjoyed many extended trips to Norway with his family. His family moved to Hingham, MA, where Hal was an outstanding varsity athlete. He was captain of the basketball, baseball and track teams. He was vice president of Hingham High School class of 1943.
Directly from high school, Hal enlisted in the Navy. He served in World War II in the Pacific Theater on the destroyer escort USS Kyne. When the war was over, Hal earned a BA degree in psychology from Washington University in St Louis. In his early career he served as Executive Director of the American Lung Association, and the Easter Seals Campaign –where he was responsible for coordinating public health education programs, mandatory TB and chest x-ray testing within the public school system; and he voiced weekly radio public health broadcasts.
He earned a Master’s degree in psychology from Boston University and Northeastern University, and changed careers. For the next 25 years, Hal was the Boston Area Director for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission. His office had the most successful record in the state for successful vocational rehabilitation and job placement for individuals with disabilities. He achieved the highest score in the state for the required Civil Service exam. He was recognized and received many awards of excellence in the performance of his work achievements. Hal is also recognized in the National Register of “Who’s Who for Executives and Professionals”. After retirement, Hal worked for five years as a lab courier for Harbor Medical Associates He was an active member of the VFW and the American Legion. Hal was also a very accomplished wood carver and was asked to show many of his works at exhibits.
Hal held his family most important in his life. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Helen (Hutcheson) Paulsen, and as a couple they enjoyed traveling to Italy, Bermuda and Canada, California and Florida. Hal was a very involved father, and coached for years in Scituate Youth Hockey, Soccer, and Softball. Hal was very proud of his three children, Karen McKay of Plymouth, her husband Stuart and their children Tyler, Connor and Morgan; Helina Moylan of Plymouth and her husband Jeffrey, and their children Moorea, Marisa and Dylan. He has a son, Eric Paulsen of Scituate. He is also survived by sister Lillian Newcombe of Concord NH.
Visiting Hours
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visiting hours on Wednesday from 4-7 at the McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, 1 Summer St (across from St Anthony’s Church), Cohasset.
Donations in Hal’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association.
Click for Map and DirectionsFuneral Mass
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday March 11, 2010 at 10 AM at St Mary of the Nativity Church, Scituate Harbor.
Interment Cudworth Cemetery, Scituate, MA.
Guestbook
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