Paul Andrew McGrade, 56, of West Long Branch, one of the greatest yet humble men to ever walk the Earth, departed peacefully from this life Feb. 1, 2022. He passed surrounded by his loving and wonderful family.
Paul was predeceased by his father and mother, Robert and Joan McGrade, and his siblings Geralyn, Mark, Matthew and Peter. He is presently enjoying all of their company once again.
Paul is survived by the love of his life Amanda (she may debate that claim), and his three incredible children, Peter, Aubrey and Addison, his siblings and best friends Robert, Gregory, Regina and John and sisters-in-law Carol McGrade and Gay Lowden.
Paul grew up in Rumson and attended borough schools, graduating from Rumson-Fair Haven High School in 1983. He made many great longtime friends there and managed to escape the building innumerable times without detection, sometimes in a teacher’s car, creating hilarious lifelong memories; thank goodness for Max Matern.
He received his undergraduate degree from MSU in 1988 and received dual graduate degrees from Monmouth University. After a short stint in the business world he realized his destiny lay somewhere else. He became an educator for approximately 30 years in Ocean Township, teaching English and language arts literacy and social studies.
He also was a successful coach of soccer and lacrosse throughout the last 25 years.
The friends he made in Ocean were some of the greatest people he has known and the many students and athletes whom he had the pleasure and privilege to teach and coach created some of the greatest joys of his life: “I learned as much from them as they did from me,” he would say.
He had the great fortune of being a member of the funniest, most genuine, loyal family one could ever know. His siblings are beyond unique: Let’s go!
He had the tremendous fortune of many great lessons from his parents.
His dearest friends to the end know who they are: Thank you!
On top of it all, he was blessed with Amanda, who literally gave him a life and provided him with the greatest gifts in this life – Peter, Aubrey and Addison. He will always be with them to guide and love forever. He is only a short distance away. Stick together; family means the most.
We will all meet again someday. Now get out there and live!
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” -Confucius
There was a memorial gathering Feb. 6 at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank.
In lieu of flowers, Paul requested that you provide a good deed or spread some positive energy to those in need.
The article originally appeared in the February 10 – 16, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
