| Paul Douglas Bamford
STRATHAM - It is with great sadness we share the peaceful passing of Paul Douglas Bamford of Stratham, NH on Saturday, February 3. He was born on September 26, 1953, son of George and Beatrice Ray Bamford, brother to predeceased brothers Stephen Ray Bamford of Centerville, MA and David Knight Bamford of Dover, NH. Paul was married to Mary Callaghan Bamford on October 8, 1977, having two sons Christopher Paul (predeceased) and Michael David married to Joanna Weiss of Tarrytown, New York. (Grandchildren Maeve Louise and Callan Christopher). Paul is survived by his three sisters in laws, two brother in laws, several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grand nephews.
Paul had a profound impact on those who knew and loved him. Many have said “He was the glue that held us all together.” If you have ever received an email from Paul, you know he signed off with his singular philosophy, “LIVE YOUR DASH WITH PURPOSE". He personified his daily mantra from a young adult age to the day he passed. His dash, 1953 - 2024 was characterized by relationship development, community service, and a love of “all his people” that ranged from preschool classmates he had known for 67 years to recent encounters at Lowe’s or Market Basket. You were taken into the Bamford fold as he greeted each of us with a gregarious smile and eagle wingspan wraparound hug. You felt like you were the only one in the room, in the aisle at Market basket, in the crowd at the UNH hockey arena, at a Lundholm Gymnasium Basketball game, or on the UNH soccer field. Paul had no acquaintances, only best friends.
Always known for his self-deprecating humor, Paul would weave his personal stories, (the "golf cart lawn mower", changing the flat tires on a dolly, whoopie pie tale) reveling in eliciting the deep laughter response from the audience or friend. His "needling “style of engaging with his buddies, bantering over sports or politics, always brought out his fervent opinions. If Paul knew you, he became a part of your family after one encounter. Inquisitive, deeply caring, and proud of your accomplishments, he would often offer his help to excel the college or career development of high school family members by connecting them to his wide network, opening a door for them to create their own path to success. Paul was the shining light who brightened us all. His light will now shine brighter forever through the sparkling light of his global community family.
“Papa B" was in love with his grandchildren. They brought him such joy and lit up his eyes when visiting in NY or celebrating holidays in NH. He loved tickling Maeve and Callan with his huge hands to squeals of laughter, pushing the pumping swing "higher higher", playing on the floor constructing ninja turtle sewers with magnetic tiles, and cheering Maeve and Cal on from the sidelines at swim, T-ball, soccer, and basketball. He felt like he was coaching another generation of Bamford’s. Curled up across his chest, the kids played preschool video games together, cozy in his arms on his iPhone. Paul loved playing chess and has passed on his avid interest to Maeve. Teaching her the fundamentals, she played him with vigor which flourished to her joining chess club this year in second grade which made him so proud. Not to be left behind, Papa taught an eager Callan checkers. Callan learned quickly how to get the king and would sneak in a few wins as he learned.
"Tall Paul, he's my all" was the chant from the cheerleaders in the Oyster River high school gym during basketball season or on the soccer field during Paul’s high school career. He captained and excelled on the basketball and soccer teams (and in spring baseball). As team goalie for the 1970 and 1971 NH state championship soccer teams, Paul earned a place in Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd: "Oyster River High School which has been unbeaten in 66 consecutive regular season games won the last two state championships in which Bamford allowed only one goal." (January 4, 1971 SI). Paul humbly felt that it was his defensive line and sweeper back that were so strong and talented, he rarely had to make a save. Teammates always countered and reminded him he was their leader who inspired, mentored, and motivated them and his recognition was well deserved.
Watching a 30 for 30 segment on ESPN a few years ago, Paul was inspired to establish the 2021 and 2022 Oyster River September Soccer Weekend. He reunited players from the championship 1971 soccer team, including honoring predeceased Soccer team players with a signed soccer ball by the current team for their families. Paul seeded new relationships and passion between alumni, community, current team members and their families. His inspirational and emotional words that evening moved the crowd as he emphasized to the student athletes that their relationships with teammates and school were important connections to maintain and nurture through their lifetime as he had done with the men standing before them.
Monies raised through the two events were directed to the OR campaign for purchase of a soccer field sound system and construction of a sportscaster box behind the bleachers. The 1971 team and alumni surprised Paul that weekend honoring him with the establishment of an Oyster River scholarship in his name, awarded to a student athlete each spring for their community service, academic excellence, and athletic leadership, hallmarks of his live your DASH with purpose. He has stayed in touch all these years nurturing his high school friendships, ultimately book ending his dash with a call to one on the morning of the day he passed, congratulating them on the birth of their first grandchild.
Paul's passion for playing sports led to his love of coaching youth sports through the early 80's. He coached both Durham youth baseball as well as at Nelson Sanders basketball camps where he started lifelong relationships with coaches throughout New England and players from both the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors. He shared these experiences with the local youth in Stratham, often taking them to the Celtics games with his sons and surprising them with locker room experiences with the NBA players after the game.
Spanning the 80-90s, Paul coached Stratham Youth Soccer and Basketball teams. He crafted curriculum in both sports for the town elementary coaches aligning developmental levels with skill acquisition. His Stratham Strikers won the NH state tournament for the under 12's bringing home the trophy with his Strikers and son Michael in a triumphant day for all. And in Paul’s most caring way, he nurtured these friendships with individual athletes and their families from his Stratham teams for the next 40 years.
Sought out to be assistant basketball coach by his Oyster River alma mater in 2017, Paul enthusiastically joined the coaching staff, working with the forwards and centers. He was back in the gym coaching the Bobcats with varsity coach Lorne Lucas. The 2018 team advanced to the semifinals at the field house in which Paul was ecstatic when Oyster River beat Pembroke with a 58-57 victory.
Paul was also asked to be the OR Varsity Golf Coach in 2017. He coached the team to win the first Oyster River NHIAA Dll Golf State Championship in 2021 followed by an exciting team trip to Pinehurst, competing for the nationals. Paul saw the need for shaping talent in the middle school golfer and started a golf “feeder team” at the junior high to build a foundation of strong player skill development for the high school.
Paul maintained his connections with his OR high school athletes who often asked for his letter of recommendation for college. The boys and girls, to this day, call him checking in, reporting their professional, newlywed, family, and college news. His home office was constantly abuzz with laughter and reminiscing everyday which brought Paul great joy as he reported their updated news. Often it was heard during these conversations, the players reflecting,"... you were like a second father to me" as they reminisced on Paul's advice and mentorship. His team players and others who have stayed in touch have all grown from boys and young ladies to great men and women, strong bonds nurtured through his lifetime.
Paul was passionate in his belief sports were the foundation to life skills of leadership, resilience, working hard toward a common goal, collaborative support of fellow teammates and appreciating one's greater purpose for community. He modeled for his golf team the spirit of selflessness and service. Many have joined him over the years during their high school career and in their college years playing in the Chris Bamford Memorial Golf Run he established raising money for the Falzone Center For Cancer Care at Exeter Hospital. In 2019, Paul and his golf team were presented with the Beyond the Rainbow Hancock chair by Exeter Hospital. He received it with his team of Oyster River High School golf players. It now graces the conference room at the school, forever a sign of the compassion of Paul’s players.
Paul was an alumni leader in fund raising efforts for the UNH basketball and soccer programs, helping to raise thousands of dollars through his efforts, He believed the individual athlete and alumni were backbone to these efforts and would place individual calls or video messages to keep them connected to the programs. Paul sat on the UNH Alumni Golf Tournament committee for several years to raise money for the Gregg Sanborn Golf scholarships. He was instrumental in broadening the reach of the tournament through his personal connections with alumni, which increased donor contributions and overall funds raised.
Following the passing of his son Christopher in 2016, Paul established the Chris Bamford Memorial Golf Run, raising $200,000 dollars for the Falzone Center for Cancer Care over the last 7 years through the generous and kind donations from local businesses, golf courses, family, and friends.
In 2018 Paul was asked by Exeter Hospital leadership to co-chair the Together We Can Cancer Capital Campaign Cabinet, with co-chair Tim Foss. Paul led the cabinet from 2018 to 2020. As the founding chair, his leadership helped make the historic campaign a reality and a success. Paul remained a true leader even when he stepped off the cabinet. He was an important part of almost every significant event and benchmark towards the successful completion of the Together We Can campaign and the creation of the new and renovated Michael and Jeanne Falzone Center for Cancer Care.
Paul's passion for "giving back" to the community, volunteering, fund raising, even providing the needed individual hug, kind word or gesture of support originated from his parents George and Bea. They instilled a responsibility of service from a young age having him mow elderly neighbor's lawns because it was the right thing to do. Through the 90's and 2000's, Paul, his family and the town of Stratham began a relationship with Lithuania, a Baltic country bordering Belarus, and its countrymen. He had met Golden State Warriors power forward Sarunas Marciulionis at an NBA game, He learned of the plight of Sarunas' country as they fought for their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. In response to his friend Sarunas' shared story, Paul organized clothing and coat drives in the seacoast and Stratham for shipment to the orphanages in Simnas and Vilnius, later visiting these towns. On his visits, he noted the hospital equipment, from beds to wheelchairs were low in number and those there were in poor condition. Given his close relationship with Tom Keefe in Stratham, they worked together through Tom's company, IMEC (International Medical Equipment Collaborative), to send repurposed and new hospital equipment to hospitals and orphanages in need. Stratham volunteers, including his sons, wrapped pallets of equipment with Paul to ensure prompt shipping to the neediest hospitals.
Given Paul's developing friendship with Sarunas, Paul hosted a Stratham student basketball players trip to the Sarunas Marciulionis Basketball school in Vilnius establishing lifelong international relationships between the girls and boys team players. The trip has generated many memorable moments from the games to the cultural exchanges with the Lithuanian people who introduced the team to their dance, food, music, religious, and political history. Paul then organized with neighbors in Stratham a trip bringing the Lithuanian basketball team and staff to Stratham in 1992, the year Lithuania regained independence from the Soviets. He hosted Thanksgiving that year at his home for the team and staff, a monumental moment of relationship development between Stratham and Lithuania. These cultural exchange moments are still reminisced about today with laughter 32 years later.
Beginning his professional career following college as the UNH assistant ticket manager in 1975, Paul moved on to his long-time career with Liberty Mutual in 1977. He initially worked in IT when first hired transferring to sales in 1980 working as a successful sales representative in Portsmouth and sales manager in Lexington and Chelmsford, MA. Here with his Liberty family, he grew strong roots with friendships across departments, played in the Liberty baseball league, and generated many self-deprecating humorous stories he would recall when asked to speak at colleague's retirement parties, (who can forget the whoopie pie story from the early 80s in the Exeter office). Paul retired in 2011 following his first heart attack. Through the following 12 years, Paul organized a seacoast Liberty get together at a local restaurant for colleagues to remain connected. These enthusiastic gatherings were held several times a year or individual lunches with Paul which brought him great joy.
Commendations
2008 Alumni Meritorious Service Award
This award was conferred upon Paul in 2008 for meritorious service to the University through active participation in alumni or University affairs and by assisting and expanding the usefulness, influence, and prestige of the University.
2011 Profile of Service Award
Paul received the Profile of Service Award in October 2011 from the UNH Alumni Association for outstanding performance on behalf of the Alumni Association or the University making contributions to the UNH community. The celebration was an opportunity to recognize dedicated alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the UNH community.
2021 United in Wellness Maureen Barrows Community Champion Award
Exeter Hospital presented Paul with this award for his commitment and dedication to community service, philanthropy and the United in Wellness mission.
2023 Oyster River Service Award
The Oyster River Cooperative School District Distinguished Service Award was presented to Paul in recognition of Outstanding Service in February 2023.
Each of us is a miracle that has never happened before and will never happen again. Paul is and was a unique miracle who lived his dash with purpose every day, inspiring all of us to join in his light. Nothing was more important to him than his family and friendships which he cherished through a kind, caring spirit that made all feel his warmth. He was born to change the world one person at a time through his DASH and love of others.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following two organizations in Paul’s honor:
Paul Bamford Scholarship Fund at NH Charitable Foundation
The scholarship benefits the student athletes of Oyster River High School
Donation link can be found HERE
Beyond The Rainbow Fund
The Fund benefits cancer patients at The Falzone Center for Cancer Care at Exeter Hospital
Donation link can be found HERE
In the drop box, please click Direct my gift to ‘Beyond The Rainbow Fund’
Click ‘I would like to dedicate this gift’
In the dropdown menu, click ‘In Honor Of’
Enter field with: Paul Bamford
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