In Memoriam: Paul T. Veillette
Paul Veillette—long-time citizen of New Concord—died on April 5th at age 92 at Kingsway Arms Nursing Center in Schenectady,. He was a founder and persistent instigator of The Society of New Concord, as well as one of its most steadfast supporters.
Paul was Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on October 29, 1926, the son of the late Leopold and Florida (Gagnon) Veillette of Waterbury. He earned his bachelor’s degree, with honors, from the University of Connecticut (1952) and his master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University (1954), where he was a Maxwell Fellow.
He then went on to a long and diverse career in government. His last assignment, before retiring in 1995, involved acting as Governor Mario Cuomo’s lead/chief negotiator on Indian casino gambling with the Oneida Indian Nation and the Mohawk-Iroquois of Akwesasne.
At age 17, he and his twin brother volunteered for service in the Coast Guard/Maritime Service on ships carrying troops to the European theatre. The two brothers later joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving in its Air Transport Command.
After the Army years, Paul completed his university studies and then joined the Connecticut Division of Budget. He held a long series of posts in management, as a negotiator and as a regulator. He worked at—among other places—the NY Division of the Budget, the United Nations, and the State Office of Criminal Justice Services.
Wherever he lived, Paul was always active in professional and community affairs. In Connecticut, he had been president of the Connecticut chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, and, in Chicago, was a member of the executive board of the Chicago chapter. He served a half-dozen years on the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Chatham. He also served 35 years as Historian of the Society of New Concord.
Paul wrote a half-dozen articles for the Columbia County Historical Society, and a book on his community: An Early History of New Concord: c. 1760 to 1856. His weekly column in the Chatham Courier, which he wrote for 12 years, often contained vignettes on local history.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Frances Nifosi Veillette, and four children: James Veillette (wife Susan Franklin), William Veillette (wife Tracy Winfield), Sally Veillette, and Jeanne Veillette Bowerman (husband Maurice Bowerman), and eight grandchildren: Peter Veillette (wife Laurie Simontacchi), Simone Veillette Flynn (husband Shaun Flynn), Emily Veillette, Olivia Veillette, Paige Bowerman, Cole Bowerman, John Veillette, and Chiara Perni.
A full obituary is here.
He donated his remains to the Anatomical Gift Program at Albany Medical College, continuing his devotion to education. A funeral service will be held at St. James Church in Chatham, NY, at a date to be announced after his remains are returned. Burial of the remains will be at the Mountain View Cemetery in New Concord. For on-line condolences, visit wenkfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the St. James Church Fuel Fund (117 Hudson Ave, Chatham, NY 12037) or to The Society of New Concord (P.O. Box 3, East Chatham, NY 12060).