Coming Of Age
8 Comments Paul’s mother, Elizabeth, had bunco parties every Friday night for the neighborhood children. Each child had treats and received a prize. Often, she would throw the guests in their backyard swimming pool. There was much fun and gaiety at that home which I feel is where Paul learned to be quick witted, gain a wry sense of humor, and the ability to just have fun and have creative great times!
He went to Proviso East High School. He was a swimmer, he wrote for the school newspaper, and sold newspaper ads.
He would go every weekend to his Grandmother’s and his Aunt Hilda’s to take them grocery shopping, clean out their apartment, and make sure there were set for the week.
He still worked for his father and was a soda jerk at Walgreens because he always liked to have money to buy his dates food.
In 1968,Martin Luther King was assassinated. At Proviso East, there were major demonstrations – stating “We are Black and we are Proud!” Paul wrote an article for the school newspaper stating, “He was White Italian and Proud”. The article incensed some fellow students and when Paul walked into the school cafeteria – a riot broke out, he continued to the lunch line and the school dismissed him for three days for his safety. During that time, he began to grow his hair long, wear bell bottom pants, and counter culture T-Shirts – He was on his way to questioning the morality of the times and wanting to make a difference.
The Obis’s were our next-door neighbors in Melrose Park for 18 years. Pauly was funny and respectful and had a kindness about him. Pauly and my sister were the same age. I was several years younger but was smitten. When he hit his teens, I thought he was beautiful. I loved his wavy red hair, his horn-rimmed glasses, his black turtleneck and slacks and his quiet aura. I would sit on the swing in the backyard and swoon when I saw him. He was pretty darn cool and that seems to be how he was throughout his life. Pretty darn cool. Pauly and his family are part of my childhood memories and that’s a good thing. I send my deepest condolences. Loss of a loved one is hard to endure but how special that you had him.
January 9, 2019
Paul and I were friends since our high school days and we had many adventures (i.e. Captain Lizard’s First Annual Karma Concert and Blue Horizons)together. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye politically (one of his favorite subjects) but we never argued, only discussed. He was a sweet guy and a good friend, even though it became hard to keep in touch we would try to get together for catch-up dinners and to see what was going on in each others lives. Sorry to see the world without you Paul. We shall meet again.
Len Biedron, Stratford, Ontario
After Martin Luther was killed in 1968, Proviso East High School had disruptive walkouts. Their chant was “We are black and proud”. Paul worked on the school newspaper and wrote an article that he was “Italian and Proud.” It did not go over well with the protestors at the time. He walked into the lunchroom and they threw chairs and a coke machine at him but he continued walking through the crowd to get his lunch. The school decided to put him on a 3 day leave for his safety.
Paul was very comfortable in his skin and beliefs.
Paul always had some kind of job. He said the reason is that he would always have money to buy his date a hamburger, french fries and coke. What a guy.
I am so devastated to learn of this very sad news. Paul was someone I liked very much in High School. He was always so nice and friendly and never mean or cocky. May he rest in peace with The Almighty and my deepest condolences to you and the entire family on both sides from a fellow classmate, Marja J. Lawrecki ( aka Tymann)
Really enjoy your vignettes about Paul. We hung out in 10 th grade. We were in the the same Spanish class and on the school paper. What is interesting is the effect the school paper had on us. I went on to a career in broadcast radio and later the publisher of a business newspaper.
BTW, Jan 1,1966 we were a couple hung over dudes!!
Patricia Albrecht
This really strikes home, you are an amazing man Paul Obis, I don’t have a ton a money but a very long time ago I made a vow to myself. This vow was, if I ever had any extra money I woul “ pay it forward” when I found the need. My LO hated me for it and got very angry every time I did a good deed $$$ for someone. LBD is so hard… ow that my LO is in Memory Care, I went back to what made ME FEEL GOOD. I pay it forward to others in very small ways that gives me great joy. 🙏 Good for you!
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Paull always had a job in high school so he would have money to buy his dates a hamburger and milkshake. He was giving and thoughtful.