GADOLA HONORABLE PAUL VICTOR JR., United States District Judge, age 85, passed away Friday, Dec. 26, 2014 in East Lansing. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 706 Beach St. Flint, MI. Family will receive visitors 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5 and from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 at Dodds Dumanois Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 901 Garland St. Flint, MI. A 7 p.m. Prayer Service will be held Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Family will also receive visitors from 9 a.m. until time of service Wednesday at the church. Fr. Ronald Scheible O.S.A. officiating the Funeral Mass. Burial in New Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Paul was born July 21, 1929 in Flint, MI, the son of Honorable Paul V. Gadola, Sr and Ann (Murphy) Gadola. He was a proud graduate of Flint Central High School (1947), Flint Junior college (1949), Michigan State College (1953) and the University of Michigan Law School (1953). Paul served in the United States Army from 1953-1955. He was involved in a vast array of community service ventures over the course of his lifetime He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Urban League of Greater Flint and the Genesee County Chapter of the NAACP. Paul courageously led the legal fight for open housing and equal accommodations in his hometown of Flint, and had a passion for civil rights and liberties. He was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Flint Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. He was very proud of his longtime service as a member of the Mott Community College Board of Trustees. Paul was regarded as one of the finest courtroom lawyers in Genesee County and maintained a successful law practice in Flint for over 30 years. He served on the national Board of Directors of the MSU Alumni Association, and maintained a lifelong love of his alma mater. Paul was an Honorary Coach and member of the MSU President's Club, and supported the university financially, spiritually, and emotionally. His "A Lot" tailgate outside the Spartan Stadium tunnel lives on without him, but Section 8 has not been quite the same the past few seasons, and he was sorely missed at the 2014 Rose Bowl. Paul's political activities and passion for the principles of the Republican Party and the conservative movement were well known. He served as a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He served as Chairman of the 7th Congressional District Republican Committee, as a member of the Republican State Committee and Chairman of its Policy Committee, and was a frequent delegate to the Republican National Convention. Paul served as Michigan Chairman of Reagan-Bush '84, and was a Reagan delegate to the 1976 Republican National Convention. He was a friend and ally of New York congressman and Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate Jack Kemp. Paul was appointed to the federal judiciary by President Ronald Reagan and was invested as a United States District Judge on January 6, 1989. He served with honor and distinction in both Detroit and Flint. He was committed to the rule of law and to the pledges made in his oath of office. Serving as a federal judge was his great love and the highest honor of his lifetime. Paul loved his country and was a true patriot. Finally he was a proud Irishman, and was a member of both the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers. Paul is survived by sons Paul V. (Mary) Gadola III, the Honorable Michael F. (Preeti) Gadola, grandchildren Sarah (Colin) Campbell of Tampa, FL, Amy Gadola of New York City, Sameer Paul and Malini Ann Gadola of Haslett, MI and great-granddaughter Avery Campbell, sister Joanne Blake of Grand Rapids and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Donations may be made to MSU Athletics CODE AE0607 Spartan Marching Band Spartan Fund 535 Chestnut Rd., Room W200, East Lansing, MI 48824-4005 or the Genesee County Humane Society P.O. Box 190138, Burton, MI 48519-0138.

From The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press

GADOLA HONORABLE PAUL VICTOR JR., United States District Judge, age 85, passed away Friday, Dec. 26, 2014 in East Lansing. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 706 Beach St. Flint, MI. Family will receive visitors 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5 and from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 at Dodds Dumanois Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 901 Garland St. Flint, MI. A 7 p.m. Prayer Service will be held Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Family will also receive visitors from 9 a.m. until time of service Wednesday at the church. Fr. Ronald Scheible O.S.A. officiating the Funeral Mass. Burial in New Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Paul was born July 21, 1929 in Flint, MI, the son of Honorable Paul V. Gadola, Sr and Ann (Murphy) Gadola. He was a proud graduate of Flint Central High School (1947), Flint Junior college (1949), Michigan State College (1953) and the University of Michigan Law School (1953). Paul served in the United States Army from 1953-1955. He was involved in a vast array of community service ventures over the course of his lifetime He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Urban League of Greater Flint and the Genesee County Chapter of the NAACP. Paul courageously led the legal fight for open housing and equal accommodations in his hometown of Flint, and had a passion for civil rights and liberties. He was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Flint Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. He was very proud of his longtime service as a member of the Mott Community College Board of Trustees. Paul was regarded as one of the finest courtroom lawyers in Genesee County and maintained a successful law practice in Flint for over 30 years. He served on the national Board of Directors of the MSU Alumni Association, and maintained a lifelong love of his alma mater. Paul was an Honorary Coach and member of the MSU President's Club, and supported the university financially, spiritually, and emotionally. His "A Lot" tailgate outside the Spartan Stadium tunnel lives on without him, but Section 8 has not been quite the same the past few seasons, and he was sorely missed at the 2014 Rose Bowl. Paul's political activities and passion for the principles of the Republican Party and the conservative movement were well known. He served as a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He served as Chairman of the 7th Congressional District Republican Committee, as a member of the Republican State Committee and Chairman of its Policy Committee, and was a frequent delegate to the Republican National Convention. Paul served as Michigan Chairman of Reagan-Bush '84, and was a Reagan delegate to the 1976 Republican National Convention. He was a friend and ally of New York congressman and Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate Jack Kemp. Paul was appointed to the federal judiciary by President Ronald Reagan and was invested as a United States District Judge on January 6, 1989. He served with honor and distinction in both Detroit and Flint. He was committed to the rule of law and to the pledges made in his oath of office. Serving as a federal judge was his great love and the highest honor of his lifetime. Paul loved his country and was a true patriot. Finally he was a proud Irishman, and was a member of both the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers. Paul is survived by sons Paul V. (Mary) Gadola III, the Honorable Michael F. (Preeti) Gadola, grandchildren Sarah (Colin) Campbell of Tampa, FL, Amy Gadola of New York City, Sameer Paul and Malini Ann Gadola of Haslett, MI and great-granddaughter Avery Campbell, sister Joanne Blake of Grand Rapids and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Donations may be made to MSU Athletics CODE AE0607 Spartan Marching Band Spartan Fund 535 Chestnut Rd., Room W200, East Lansing, MI 48824-4005 or the Genesee County Humane Society P.O. Box 190138, Burton, MI 48519-0138.

From The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press