Search Results

FRENCH -- PADRAIC Was a Veteran of World War II. He was in the 508th Paratroop Regiment attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. He jumped into Holland, fought in Operation Market Garden and was wounded in Nijmegen at "The Bridge Too Far" on the Waal River. Paddy was born January 24, 1925 to Loretto Coffield French and Carroll French in New York City and passed away August 22, 2012. He lived most of his life on South Mountain Road in New City, NY. Paddy attended The Art Students' League on the GI Bill and met Anne Hartell there. They married in 1947. Paddy was a newspaper artist, stage carpenter, stone mason and woodworker. He built his family's house by hand. He retired from the Clarkstown Central School District. Paddy was a self-taught naturalist, participating in the Hawk Watch on Hook Mountain, Hudson River; a volunteer and board member of several conservation societies in Rockland County and Martha's Vineyard. In the past 30 years he particularly enjoyed his wildlife observations in Northern New Mexico, especially in the Sargent Wilderness adjacent to his Chama cabin. Paddy and Anne moved to Albuquerque in 2009 to be near their daughter Abigail. Paddy is survived by wife Anne; daughter Abigail and her partner Art Rivera; son Stephen Cooper French and his wife Ruth; grandson Brandon French Duncan; brother Alexander French; several nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends across the country.
        Published on: Sun August 26, 2012