Obituary of Paul Henry Kinn

Paul Henry Kinn September 5, 2016 Paul Henry Kinn, 95, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2016 in Syracuse. Born on August 6, 1921 in Syracuse, to Henry and Anna (Koppentouski) Kinn Heller, he grew up in Syracuse before joining the Civilian Conservation Corps as a member of the fire brigade. While in the CCC, he traveled west as part of the fire brigade, fighting forest fires in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Pacific Northwest before returning home to Syracuse. Motivated by the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the US Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theatre, earning the rank of sergeant. He completed a second tour of duty during the Korean Conflict, before returning home to Syracuse. Though unable to afford college, Paul valued the pursuit of knowledge, and took college courses in his spare time. While stationed in Okinawa, he studied religion and philosophy at a local university. All his life, he remained a history and politics enthusiast. Paul met his wife, Louise Raschella, while working at EZ washer, and they married in 1948. He transitioned to O.M. Edwards, rising to the position of Vice President of purchasing. In lieu of retirement, he started Rankin Industrial Sales, a distribution company, in 1987, remaining active well into his late eighties. He valued spending time with his family and giving back to his community. The founder of the booster club at Christian Brothers Academy, he supported CBA sports his entire life. An avid fisherman, he he summered at his home on the St. Lawrence River, where he enjoyed fishing and watching the sunset over Wolfe Island. Paul was preceded in death by his wife Louise, his sister Norma (Kinn) Seeley Doxtater, and his nephew Raymond Seeley. He is survived by his children Nancy (John) Solazzo, Joseph (Catherine) Kinn, Randolph Kinn; grandchildren Dr. Stephanie Solazzo, Laura (Philip) Burns, John (Heather) Solazzo, Jennifer (Benjamin) Thomas, and Paul Kinn; great-grandchildren Briella and Charlotte Burns. The family especially thanks the staff at Iroquois Nursing Home for providing such exceptional care. A funeral mass will be held at on Friday, September 9 at 10am in Assumption Church, 812 N. Salina St. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Mausoleum. Visitation will be held Thursday from 5-8pm at the Goddard-Crandall-Shepardson Funeral Home, 3111 James St. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Christian Brothers Annual Fund (cbasyracuse.org) in Paul's name.