Paul A Brill

Paul came into this world on Sunday, July 30, 1939, under a waxing gibbous. He weighed 1 pound, 14 ounces. As the story goes, he was placed in a shoe box and put near the oven to keep warm. His heart could be seen beating through his tiny chest and when it slowed, a drop of whiskey was placed on his tongue to keep it fluttering. As a youth, he fondly remembered the steam engine trains throwing out hot embers that would catch fire to the old, tall grasses on their baseball fields (wink, wink). On another day, his mother tasked him with driving to the store for butter. He returned home much later than expected with a dent in the station wagon fender after racing on 209 and without the butter. His dad was never wiser of the event.

He graduated from St. Benedict’s High School in 1958 and attended one of the first technical colleges in Barberton, Ohio. His earliest employment was for E.L. Brill Electric, the family-owned business. In 1966, he began his 35-year career with E.G. Smith (later known as Cyclops and then Centria). During that time, he assisted in the establishment of UAW Local #1825. During the 1970’s, he served as a Cambridge auxiliary Police Officer.

Paul is a lifetime member of Cambridge Elks #448 and enjoyed motorcycles, softball, golf, bowling, and playing cards with his Elk Brothers. In more recent years, his favorite hobby became blinding his neighbors with Christmas lights adorned on his Clark Street home. He was a genealogy enthusiast and discovered the Brill family arrived in the United States in 1757. He is a member of the First Families of Guernsey County.

He is preceded in death by his parents; Eugene Loren and Francis (Ralston) Brill and his siblings; Betty (Kelleher), Eugene L, Ron R, and an infant sister. He is survived by his children, Paul A. (& Cathy), William E. (& Kathy Frye) and Barbara; former wife and the mother of his children Barbara Polasky; special friends, Melissa Hickman and Kathy Shepherd; numerous nieces and nephews, and many Elks friends and family.

A special thanks to all at Hearth Brook Assisted Living and Generation Hospice of Newark who cared for him. Thanks to niece Elaine Brill Paris and friends David Black and Bud McCutcheon for regular visits and to Cecily and Matt Stiffler for watching over him and his place.

He did not particularly stand out in a crowd- well, until he laughed. There was no doubt then that he was in the crowd. He lived his life as he saw fit and liked his independence. Most recently, his health temporarily robbed him of this independence but on Friday, September 9, 2022, under a waxing gibbous he gained his full independence. May he rest in peace.

The visitation will be held Wednesday, September 14, 2022, from 4pm to 6pm at Thorn- Black Funeral Home in Cambridge with the Elks service at 5:30pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Elks #448 Scholarship fund in Paul’s name.

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