Page created by: the McGowan family

Paul John McGowan passed peacefully into eternal rest on November 2, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Paul was born in Albany, New York to Veronica McGowan on September 25, 1949, and raised by his loving aunt and uncle, Ruth and Joe Bosco. Paul attended St. Patrick’s Elementary School in Albany. He then went on to Cardinal McCloskey High School, where he graduated with his future wife, Maureen. After attending both Siena College and the University of Albany, Paul served ten years on the Albany City Police Department where he found lifelong friends, and more important, lifelong stories that he could continue to tell. Paul was a founding member of the Albany Police Pipes and Drums Bagpipe Band and toured across New York, and even Ireland – yet his favorite performance continued to be his annual show for the children of Public School 16 on St. Patrick’s Day.

While Paul loved to tell his cop stories to anyone who would listen, Paul’s favorite tale was how he asked Maureen out on a date when he was on patrol in her Madison Avenue neighborhood. Indeed, “the cop with the big blue eyes” used Maureen’s two younger sisters as couriers for the sweet invitation for a date that ultimately led to the rest of their lives. Paul and Maureen shared fifty-two years of marriage and two children, Brandon and Caitlin.

For his children, Paul has been a giant in every sense of the word. From coaching tee-ball, emceeing lip sync concerts, heading the PTA, camping along the eastern seaboard and being a constant source of encouragement and some occasional tough love – Paul has been the father that people write stories about. He was the first one to cry when he dropped his children off at college, as well as the last one to pull away from every hug.

In addition to the Albany Police Department, Paul taught police officers for the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services and then proudly served as the lobbyist for the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System for decades, where he looked forward to entertaining his coworkers. For everyone that knew Paul, he had a joke on hand and was a constant during life’s hardest moments.

In his later years, Paul fought a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. The silver lining in this fight was that Paul and his family found helping hands and comfort from new family and friends including his two beloved aides. Paul was also very active in Parkinson's disease support groups and spent his weekends with his friends at the YMCA in the Pedaling for Parkinson's program.

For those who knew Paul, they were blessed with one of the purest and kindest souls. He was a man who had a deep love for his family, a strong sense of justice, and a roaring laugh that could shake the ground. On behalf of Paul, we want to thank you for your support today for continuing research to cure Parkinson's disease.