Paul Colonero

Paul Colonero, 71, went to be with the Lord on January 10, 2023 after a long illness, during which he remained at home in the loving care of Edie, his wife of 45 years. Paul was born in May of 1951, the third son of Nancy (Vecchione) and Benjamin Colonero, Sr. (both deceased) of East Douglas, Massachusetts. He graduated from Douglas High School in1969 and from Providence College in 1973. He and Edie Gattis married in 1977 and share daughters Nicole and Natalie, son Nathan, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren who, along with his brothers Ben, Chris, and Gerald and their families, survive to mourn him deeply.

Paul built his life around his family, and for Paul that included his wife and three children; his parents; his three brothers and their families; his aunts, uncles, and many cousins; his extended family; his friends; and a multitude of good folks who worked with him throughout the 35 years he spent, first as manager and then, as owner of Seafood Sam’s in South Yarmouth.

Paul’s career at Seafood Sam’s began before he ever set foot there. While in college, he learned the ropes of the restaurant business alongside his uncles Joe and Sam, but they had completely different schools of thought. He took what he liked best from both, added it to his own style, and then, in 1983, put it into practice at the original location in South Yarmouth. Paul’s dedication and precise execution of his principles would not only build the business at his location from 26 seats to 99, but also help carry several new locations through their lean beginning years. Sam gave him the tools—a building and a vision—but Paul built that flagship store from the ground up—literally!

Part of the way that Paul succeeded was that he always kept his family close.  His mother, wife, his three children, his brother, cousins, and numerous nephews worked at Sam’s at different times throughout the years. And even though his father may not have worked inside the building, he used his talents to maintain the property and welcome customers. Paul and his Father Ben Sr. were of like mind and would often say “It’s the first thing people see. You need to keep the property looking nice.” For Paul, business has always been about family regardless because everyone who worked for him was treated like family. You can ask any of his employees over his 35 years at the helm. He may have been “tough,” but he was always fair. He never asked anyone who worked for him to do anything he wouldn't do. He knew that the dishwasher was just as important as the owner, and that everyone had to pull their weight because it was a team effort.   

Throughout his life, Paul was an observer of people, and as a philosophy major, he liked to ponder the “big questions” around the meaning of life.  He wanted to understand how people thought, and he was compassionate.  He would remind us on occasion: “You never know the weight another person carries that you can’t physically see.” That search for understanding is why he loved to read autobiographies.  Learning about history through an individual’s experience of it and how they succeeded in their own time and place really made an impact on him.  Walt Disney was someone he really enjoyed learning more about and the example of his life helped Paul add fun to his own business.  He gained a new perspective on how he wanted to run Sam’s to build his own legacy. He imagined building a lifelong relationship with the kids coming to eat with their parents. He realized that getting the kids excited meant that the whole family would want to come back, possibly making the Seafood Sam’s experience part of their summer traditions for generations.

Paul built everything around family and was always looking to build and protect the future of those families, especially his own. He never wanted to say no to his children, but he rarely offered an easy yes either.  He would simply lay out ALL the obstacles for whatever they had asked for. He thought if they were still determined, he would help them in every way he could. If they hadn’t thought of ALL that, they could just say NEVERMIND, but at least he had prepared them for all the scenarios and obstacles they might face.  His philosophy of helping someone, meant working together, not doing it for them—and he treated everyone with the same respect and consideration.

But it wasn’t just legacies and futures he built. He was handy and very creative when it came to fixing what anyone else thought wasn’t possible or worth it. Whenever asked, “How are you going to fix that?” he would just say, “You’ll see!” and flash that giant grin. It could be unnerving, but he could be trusted to finish the job, no matter what. Over the years he had built and fixed everything that needed building or fixing. He built a second story deck that lasted well over twenty years, stone retaining walls that still stand, a three season porch, laid tile floors, fixed bicycles, sinks, and a horse riding ring (twice!), ran electrical wire, blew insulation, mowed lawns and chopped wood for the stove that kept the house toasty warm in winters. It would seem he could do just about anything. This talent led to him becoming his own general contractor for the amazing addition he made to Seafood Sam’s over the winter of 2003-2004, remodeling the entire building and expanding the dining room from 26 indoor seats to 99.

Paul’s life was so much more than his restaurant though. If you didn’t find him at the store, as he would call it, he was likely outside…walking or biking. He took a walk daily, rain or shine.  A true New Englander, Paul loved the turn of the seasons and spent much of his free time outdoors walking, biking, golfing, birdwatching, and photographing the beauty of nature around him. He especially loved Spring, when the birds would start to sing again and the first signs of green started to bud.  He would point out every cardinal he saw and share a tidbit about them and their habits.  He loved Cape Cod, especially Coast Guard Beach, the Canal, and Shining Sea Bike Path. He enjoyed taking time to drive the scenic route, cruising 6A to watch the perennials unfold…crocuses…daffodils...tulips...forsythias...lilacs...and azaleas, but the Kwanzan cherry trees were probably his favorite. The grand finale to Spring before Summer began.

One of the many perks of owning a seasonal business on Cape Cod was having several months off in the winter.  Paul enjoyed travelling in the off seasons and often went someplace warm and beautiful.  He frequented the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion, the Bahamas, Disney World, San Diego, Houston, North Conway and went on cruises of the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. And everywhere he went, near or far, he loved to document his experiences with his camera. He looked for beauty everywhere and always found it. All in all, Paul was a student of life and an observer of people, always seeking to understand what motivated people to be their best, including himself. It began in his youth as he absorbed his mother’s knack for business and cooking Italian food and his father’s gentle welcoming

heart and his ability to build or repair just about anything—a carpenter, electrician, mason, plumber, and general problem solver all rolled into one. He continued along this path of gleaning all the good he could find in people and learning by example throughout his entire life. Paul’s legacy is that he shared what he knew with others and led by example himself, served others and really showed up for the people in his life, worked hard with a grateful heart in all things, and was a devoted Christian with a heart for God’s will in his life.

Paul was also a down-to-earth regular guy who loved music, sports, playing the piano, trying to tell jokes without laughing so hard he couldn’t say the punchline, watching the ocean waves, playing cards or games, and eating his favorite treats—strawberry ice cream, blueberry muffins, and “a good Danish.”

And he was a faithful member of Covenant Community (formerly Baptist) Church, served as a deacon and church treasurer for many years, and supported the missions of those called to do good works for God.

Paul had a heart of gold and a thousand-Watt smile that we will always miss.

A Visitation will be held at Nickerson Bourne Funeral Home, located at 154 MA-6A, Sandwich, MA, on Saturday, January 21, from 10 to 11:30 AM, followed by a Funeral Service at Covenant Community Church at 12PM. An Honor Hour and lunch reception are to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Covenant Community Church : http://www.sandwichcovenantchurch.org/give-to-covenant