Paul Mark Gallinari, 59, passed away March 3, 2023, at his home with his family by his side. Paul endured a courageous three-year fight with pancreatic cancer.
Paul was born to Paul Antonio Gallinari and Anne C. Wheaton on July 10, 1963, at Pease Air Force Base in Kittery, Maine. He grew up and lived in Bridgton. He attended Bridgton schools and graduated from Lake Region High School in 1981, where he made and still had lifelong friends. It was there that he participated in
the Automotive Vocational Program, which he said, “kept him in school.” He always spoke very highly of the program and his late teacher Ollie Irish.

Paul had a lot of respect for his elders. He would look up to and learn from Enoch Cook, Gordon Brill, Maurice Keene, and Sheldon Prentice. If they didn’t know how to fix something, Paul would figure it out himself. He could fix anything and found a use for everything.

Paul worked as his father did, in the excavation business. He was one of the first to be certified by the Lakes Environmental Association to do tractor work around waterways. Paul’s work was featured in the 2021 LEA Homeowners Guide and pictured in The Bridgton News. His customers would say that he was the “Michelangelo of dirt and rock.”

Paul married his High School sweetheart, Penny Brown of Bridgton in 1993, at the Gallinari’s Brookline Cottages on Highland Lake in Bridgton, where Penny and their two sons will continue the family rental business.

Paul was very proud of his families contributions to the town of Bridgton. The Gallinaris historically ran several businesses and owned many properties throughout the town and surrounding areas.

When not working, Paul loved hanging out with a beer in his hand, listening to music, and visiting with friends and family. He enjoyed years of snowmobiling, skiing, dirt biking, boating, water skiing, four wheeling, yard saleing, working on antique cars and motorcycles, snowplowing, and excavating. He loved a good story and a spontaneous laugh. Paul’s outward personality, red hair and beard, loud voice, and distinct laugh will be missed by all that knew and loved him.

Paul was predeceased by his parents, his grandparents Anselmo “Sam” and Olga Gallinari, and Ruth and Al Wheaton, all of Bridgton. As well as his Uncle John Gallinari and cousins Michael and Keith Gallinari, of Florida. Most recently Paul was predeceased by his father-in-law Allen Dean Brown of Bridgton.

Paul is survived by his loving wife Penny Brown Gallinari, and two sons Mason Palmer Gallinari, and Paul Allen and his wife Samantha (Marucci) Gallinari, AKA Paul’s “bonus daughter.” He is also survived by his Uncle Terry Wheaton, as well as two brothers and one sister and their families, all of Bridgton.

In lieu of flowers, because in Paul’s words, “flowers just means somebody died,” please donate in Paul’s name to Harvest Hills Animal Shelter in Fryeburg, as he loved animals and animals loved him.

Online condolences can be made at www.chandlerfunerals. com

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 8 Elm Street, Bridgton.