Paul A. Dutra

Paul A. Dutra, 87, of Foster, RI passed away on January 18, 2025 surrounded by members of his loving family. He was the loving husband to his wife Mary Lou (O’Connell) for 62 years, father to Lisa Dutra, Kristine Dutra Miozza, & Denise Dutra, and grandfather to Noelle & Nathan Miozza. He was the son of the late Francis H. Dutra & Catherine A. (Devaney). He was the eldest of five brothers. He is survived by Brian Dutra & his wife Josephine (E. Greenwich, RI), Joseph Dutra & his wife Molly (St. Petersburg, FL), Devan & his wife Jozie (Janesville, WI). He is predeceased by his brother Timothy Dutra. He had many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. As a young boy he grew to enjoy nature and the outdoors, working on a family farm, and spending his summers on his uncle's fishing boat in Newport, RI. He graduated from Warwick HS, attended the University of RI where he achieved a Bachelor of science in Agriculture, and went on to earn his Master’s degree in Education. For a time he worked as a high school teacher in New Boston, NH, and then Coventry, RI. When the family relocated back to RI they settled in Foster, where they have resided for 57 years. He went on to work for the State of RI at both the Department of Transportation & the Department of Environmental Management for many years until his retirement. Paul was also the owner and operator of Cucumber Hill Nursery which he ran for several years while he tended his nearby property and gardens. Throughout his years, Paul collected a catalogue of knowledge, and mundane facts that he was happy to recite for a quick lesson. Paul had many interests and passions throughout life. He was an avid reader, enjoyed flying kites, and often had a camera in hand. He and Mary Lou spent a lot of time travelling with friends & family over the years and he had many fond memories of those times. He loved to get a laugh or a grin out of others, even if he knew they'd heard the joke before. After retiring he took up golf and discovered a new passion where he could be outdoors. He enjoyed many happy years golfing with his friends, and trained several family members in the sport. He was an active member for many years at Foster Country Club & even came home with a prize pool from time to time. Among his other passions were giving time to volunteer to various causes. In support of his daughters, he became a coach & aide for the Special Olympics of RI helping for both cross-country skiing and golfing. In his time as a mentor, Paul met many individuals that he formed connections with and stayed in contact with for years. Paul truly loved & supported his wife and daughters in all of their endeavors. He was always there for his “girls”, and guarded & watched over them in a way only he could. He was a family man, who led with love, and instilled in his daughters and grandchildren a love for learning, joy in laughter, an appreciation for nature, and respect, patience, and love above all else. Calling Hours will be held Thursday January 23rd from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Winfield & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 571 West Greenville Road, Scituate. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church, Danielson Pike, Foster. Burial will be in Phillips Memorial Cemetery, Foster.

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Paul A. Dutra

January 18, 2025