Senate Resolution No. 5323

BY: Senator KENNEDY

MOURNING the death of Norman S. Paolini Jr.,
co-founder of St. Luke's Mission of Mercy,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of his
community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Norman S. Paolini Jr. of North Buffalo, New York, died on
Monday, April 30, 2018, at the age of 71; and

WHEREAS, Born the oldest of 10 children on April 19, 1947, Norman S.
Paolini Jr. graduated from Canisius High School in 1965; he went on to
earn a bachelor's degree from Canisius College in 1969; and

WHEREAS, Two weeks after graduating, Norman S. Paolini Jr. married
his high school sweetheart, the former Linda Decot; later that year, he
was drafted into the United States Army, during which time he served as
a medic in Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his military service, Norman S.
Paolini Jr. earned a master's degree in biology from the University at
Buffalo and began a 20-year career in cancer research at Roswell Park
Comprehensive Cancer Center; and

WHEREAS, Norman S. Paolini Jr. was also a music minister in St.
Margaret's Catholic Church in North Buffalo, where he played guitar at
Mass and started a charismatic prayer group; his voice was heard on
Catholic radio for more than two decades; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious tenure at Roswell Park, Norman
S. Paolini Jr. regularly visited patients, praying with them and
singing and playing his guitar for them; he released two albums of his
own musical compositions, "I'm Just Beginning" in 1983, and "Love Never
Fails" in 1991; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, he was active in Voices of Mercy, a touring
choral group at St. Luke's, and provided music ministry at numerous
churches; and

WHEREAS, After meeting Amy Betros during a 1992 pilgrimage to the
Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, Norman S. Paolini Jr., called
to a higher cause, retired early from his position as a cancer
researcher to begin his Catholic mission; and

WHEREAS, Norman S. Paolini Jr. and Amy Betros co-founded St. Luke's
Mission of Mercy in 1994, when they bought the buildings from the
Catholic Diocese of Buffalo; and

WHEREAS, An independent Catholic mission supported entirely by
donations and staffed by volunteers, St. Luke's Mission of Mercy has

provided assistance to thousands of the needy in one of the poorest
neighborhoods on Buffalo's East Side for more than two decades; and

WHEREAS, Affectionately known to many as "Uncle Norm," Norman S.
Paolini Jr. was godfather to more than 60 adults and children; and

WHEREAS, Norman S. Paolini Jr. was the recipient of numerous awards
and accolades, including the Buffalo News Citizen of the Year Award in
1999, a Brother/Sisterhood Award from the National Conference for
Community and Justice in 2005, and an honorary doctorate of humane
letters by Canisius College in 2009; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Linda, Norman S. Paolini Jr. is
survived by three daughters, Jennifer, Stephanie and Teresa; a son,
Matthew; five brothers, Richard, Nelson, Paul, Alan and Christopher; two
sisters, Marianne and Elvira; and 10 grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Norman S. Paolini Jr.'s commitment to excellence, and his
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise,
including charitable and civic endeavors; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Norman S. Paolini Jr. leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Norman S. Paolini Jr., co-founder of St. Luke's
Mission of Mercy, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his
community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Norman S. Paolini Jr.