Paul MacLean Dalton

Paul MacLean Dalton, 86, died on January 13, 2021 due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. Paul was born Friday, April 13, 1934 at Norwood Hospital to the late John and Mildred (MacLean) Dalton. Contrary to the myths around Friday the 13th, Paul led a life of very good fortune, and in fact shared a number of significant milestones with his wife of over 64 years, Dorothy, on subsequent Friday the 13th’s throughout their life together.

Raised in Walpole, Massachusetts, Paul graduated from Walpole High School in 1952, lettering in both varsity football and hockey, and most notably scoring the winning goal for the Bay State League hockey championship of 1952.  More importantly, as a junior at Walpole High, Paul began his lifelong romance with his future wife, Dorothy.  However, it’s believed they were merely rekindling a relationship started back at the newborn nursery at Norwood Hospital in 1934, where they were both born only five days apart.

After a stop at Chauncy Hall prep school in Back Bay, Paul enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.  He graduated from WPI in 1958 with a degree in Civil Engineering, subsequently becoming a registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts.  By that time, he and Dorothy had already begun married life in 1956, and family life began in 1958 as well, with the birth of the first of their five children.  Paul and family settled back in Walpole, originally back in the family homestead, and where the family business – Dalton’s Package Store – had been a staple of the downtown area for decades.  As the family grew, their need for space brought them to nearby Dover, which has been home for over 46 years.

Paul instilled a strong work ethic in his children – consistently demonstrating this value during his nearly 35-year career at commercial real estate developer Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, where he retired as Senior Vice President of New England Engineering in 1999, and in subsequent real estate consulting for State Street Bank.  He also cultivated a love of the outdoors in his children, leading the family to take up skiing and sailing.  His ski adventures took him from the American Rockies to the French Alps – but Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton, Maine was the second home for the skiing Daltons.  Paul’s love for sailing had the family cruising to Martha’s Vineyard, Cuttyhunk, Newport and other New England coastal locales, through his longtime membership in the Westport Yacht Club. A highlight of his sailing interest was his attendance at the 1987 America’s Cup championship in Fremantle, Australia.

After retirement, Paul spent more time with leisure pursuits like golf at the Walpole Country Club, fly fishing, and ice hockey - where he continued to dazzle his family with his skating prowess late in life.  He and Dorothy traveled extensively.  Aruba was a favorite destination that they both enjoyed and shared with their children.  He also found great pleasure participating in the pursuits of the next generation of the Dalton family, attending birthdays, christenings, graduations, recitals, sports championships, award ceremonies, etc. with his growing roster of grandchildren – and most recently, great grandchildren.

Although in his final years, Alzheimer’s Disease robbed him of many of life’s simple pleasures, he never lost his tremendous charm and wit, as he was a darling of the staff at Newbridge on the Charles in Dedham, who provided such dignity and care for Paul, and for whom the family is forever grateful.

Paul is survived by his wife, Dorothy (MacKenzie); his son Terence and husband Dr. Joseph Chimienti; his son John and wife Liana; his daughter Stephanie Sagara; his son Christopher and wife Deidre; his daughter Tiffany Capobianco and husband Renato; his grandson Richard Bader and wife Brianna; his grandson Brian Bader and wife Jessica; his granddaughters KateLynn Chimienti, Lindsey Sagara, Sasha Capobianco, and Giselle Capobianco; his grandsons Joseph Chimienti II, Johnny Dalton, Patrick Dalton, Geoffrey Sagara, Ryan Dalton, and Connor Dalton; and his great-grandchildren Dalton Bader and Shoshana Bader.

A funeral mass is being held at Most Precious Blood Parish in Dover on Wednesday, January 20th, at 10:30 A.M. Interment will be private.  In consideration of those who may be unable to attend due to impacts of the current pandemic, a web broadcast of services will be accessible at: https://events.productivemedia.com/portal/view.php?eventId=5d3040 .  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the memory of Paul Dalton to the Medfield Food Cupboard – where Johnny and Patrick Dalton have donated countless hours with their mother Liana over the last 20+ years.  Donations may be mailed to: Medfield Food Cupboard, PO Box 172, Medfield, MA 02052, or made online at: http://www.medfieldfoodcupboard.com.