The Life and Times of Paul Audette

Photo: Courtesy Patricia S. Zacks

Paul Audette, of Providence, died November 11, 2021, in Providence, Rhode Island, at the age of 91. 

Born in Central Falls, Rhode Island, he was the son of the late Alexander and Maryanne (Croteau) Audette. He was one of 14 children. He was the husband of the late Marjorie (Fregeole) Audette.

Paul is survived by his four children, Elaine Audette/DeCaporale of Clearwater, FL, and Michael Audette, Christine (Tina) Audette, and Cheryl Fleming all of Providence, Rhode Island.  He had seven grandchildren (Ann Marie Audette, Robert Audette, Jess Hosey, Paul J. Audette, Eric Peters, Nicholas Fleming, and Michael A. Audette) and seven great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

In addition to his family, he leaves longtime partner, Joyce Fisher and daughter Kelli Ambrosino and dear friend, Lucy Santos.

You saw Paul everywhere – active in Pawtucket, Central Falls and throughout Rhode Island. Paul, who died at 91, was often compared to the “Energizer bunny,” died peacefully November 11, 2021, in Providence. He was surrounded by his loving family. “His batteries have finally run down,” a colleague said.

The retired Pawtucket business owner, sporting gray whiskers and a plump belly wearing suspenders, had become an iconic figure in both Pawtucket and Central Falls. He was known for advocating for the “voiceless” in these communities for over five decades.  

Paul also left his mark in the business community as well. He didn’t learn the ropes about business by attending Brown University, Harvard, or any other of the Ivy-league schools, but instead acquired the tricks of the trade by rolling up his sleeves and working in the trenches.

For over 70 years, Paul’s hard work landed him senior-level positions for major corporations including Dunkin’ Donuts, in addition to serving as ‘Special Assistant’ to the founding President of Providence Metallizing and later to his son, Richard Sugarman, working in the Personnel Department, and by managing and developing properties owned by the company, and taking on special projects as assigned.  One project was to develop a longtime vacant mill into live/work condos for local artists.

Paul even ran one of the state’s largest catering companies in Rhode Island, catering over 2,000 weddings and 20,000 functions over the years.  His corporate and nonprofit clients included widely recognized organizations in the Ocean State, including Hasbro, Hospital Trust, La Salle Academy, Bay View Academy and Swank.

Paul had long-ties to many of the City’s nonprofit groups, from the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative, the Pawtucket Armory Association including the Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theater, the Foundry Artists, the Pawtucket Fireworks Committee, Pawtucket Preservation Society and the Pawtucket Arts Festival, just to name a few groups. 

Exemplifying the Rotary International’s motto “Service Above Self,” Paul was a longtime member of the Pawtucket Rotary Club, and was recognized and awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Award, the highest civic recognition that the national civic group bestows upon an individual.

Watching out for Rhode Island seniors, Paul served as a volunteer ‘ombudsman’ for the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care, even serving as chairperson of the Pawtucket’s Affirmative Action Committee to ensure that everyone had equal opportunities in municipal government.  He also considered himself to be an advocate for those down-and-out, providing them financial assistance out of his pocket, to keep them from being evicted, providing transportation, even paying for oil to keep their homes warm in winter.

Paul co-founded and managed a nonprofit group called Helping Hands that provided financial assistance to local organizations that help youth at risk, and the homeless.  Since 2006, Helping Hands has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to dozens of organizations, including, Crossroads, Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Pawtucket Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, Rhode Island Food Bank and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Throughout his long life, Paul was a role model to many, inspiring, teaching and giving them a road map to overcome obstacles in their personal and professional careers. Sometimes the most important ones are those individuals who are not so visible or obvious, like those reported in surveys by the nation’s media – the celebrities, professional athletes or beloved religious figures, but rather that person in your community, whose mere existence quietly impacts you – as well as a community. Whether you  knew it or not.

That was Paul Audette.

While he sought no public recognition for his good deeds, they have not gone unnoticed.  For his unassuming efforts, Paul has been inducted into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame and the American-French Genealogical Society’s French Canadian Hall of Fame, Class of 2014. For his community work, both Mayor James Diossa and Mayor Donald R. Grebien gave him the keys to their city.  

Visiting Hours are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, from 4-8 p.m. at the Nardolillo Funeral Home, Park Avenue, Cranston. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Church, No. Providence. Donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

 Online memorial: Nardolillofh.com