Paul Clifford Russell Bodrato

December 23, 1988 – April 1, 2020

Paul left us on April Fool’s Day in what was his most epic show of poor comedic timing yet. Always the first to make others laugh, even at his own expense, the irony will surely have us shaking our heads and saying “Oh, Paul!” for years to come.

Paul was a Closter native and graduate of Northern Valley Demarest (his kindness and charm served him well). He was a member of the Varsity Bowling Team partly for the love of sport, but mostly to spend more time with his best friend Matt eating bowling alley pizza. Although seemingly impossible, Paul brought every girl to prom and always got them home by curfew. Moms loved him! He had a childlike curiosity, an aversion to settling, and a slight case of A.D.D., which led him to various academic and professional endeavors. He ultimately found his niche as a Veterinary Technician and became New Jersey’s own, less famous, certainly less wealthy, but more adorable version of Steve Irwin through his daily animal posts.

One would be hard-pressed to find a picture of Paul without a smile, holding a baby, posing with a puppy, or locked in an embrace. To understand his personality is to understand each of the traits he truly embodied and the lessons he learned from those who made the most profound impact on his life:

Those he has since rejoined

(Pop-Pop) overwhelming amount of charisma, contagious laughter, and he really let Paul run with the ‘only grandson’ schtick, much to his sister and cousins’ chagrin (Nanny) love of art… which he found in the form of tattoos (Grandma) love of beer and calling on Dad for favors (Mom) tenderness and his first lesson in the brevity of life (Momma G) taught him that even through suffering, optimism and laughter are not only possible, but necessary.

Those who are left with his memory

(Dad) unwavering dedication to family, boundless love, quick wit, humility, and good looks (Kim) taught him that sometimes we learn more about humanity from those who aren’t human and encouraged his passion for helping animals (Kathleen “Loon”) taught him the ultimate expression of selfless love and faith, ever-willing participant in his jokes, gave him the luck of the Irish and a smack on the head when necessary (Molly) strength through adversity, tough but ever-present love, advocacy, an indescribable bond, took the heat off him (that one time) as the ‘trouble-child’ (Jasmin) the purest form of his love and happiness, Paul’s first experience with the awe of life and desire to protect his loved ones, taught him that whimsy should not be bound by age (Matt) fierce loyalty, unending levity, laughter, and shenanigans, taught him that sometimes the best brothers are the ones we choose.

Paul’s passing in the time of quarantine adds the touch of drama and shroud of mystery befitting his departure. Until we can come together again for a Celebration of Life, please pray for Paul and the Bodrato, Sharpnack, Kearns, Aballi, and Oliva families that will forever feel this void.