Paul McEnroe

Paul McEnroe

AMENIA — Paul McEnroe, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, passed away on July 12, 2022. He was the husband of Elizabeth A. “Betty” (Hart) McEnroe.

He wrote this obituary a few weeks before, which is as follows: If you are reading this, I have already gone up in smoke (hope that is the direction). No tears for me as I have had a long life filled with love, laughter, and many wonderful adventures.

I began my life as the son of Florence and John McEnroe of Amenia, New York, who provided a loving home for me and my siblings – Jack, Alfred, Robert, and my sister Eileen who all have predeceased me. Although I was raised on a farm, I realized that farming was not for me. When I won a medal for salesmanship in high school, I thought this was my future.

Before I started on my many adventures, I served in the U.S. Army in WWII in Europe, receiving citations for taking part in the Battle of the Bulge. After my Army experience, I had many small businesses from an ice cream stand to restaurants and working as an agent for the Prudential Insurance Company. I then went on to become a partner in the Thompson and Blinn Insurance Company where I ended up purchasing the company.

My next adventure was with four partners purchasing The DeLaVergne Farms Hotel in Amenia, New York. It was a landmark dating back to the 1700’s. It was destroyed in a fire in 1974.

I have a special place in my memories for a property named The Troll Haus in West Dover, Vermont in the Mount Snow ski area. I owned it since 1968 and had many friends there. I have had many experiences but one of the most interesting was building a house on the island of St. Maarten on the Dutch side. I had to slow down and be patient! Very hard for me! Vero Beach, Florida was also home to us for many winters. I was also very fortunate to be able to travel throughout Europe and the Caribbean.

We settled in Middletown, Rhode Island in 1975, buying a house on Indian Ave and resided there for 46 years. I operated the Inn at Castle Hill in Newport, Rhode Island for 20 years where I had a wonderful staff and many “fun” times. My Newport experiences also included purchasing property on Mary St. and Thames St. where I built a 24 room Inn named the Intown. My wife was “Chief Honcho” there. I am writing this from my most recent residence “The Atria” in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

I can no longer ski, dance, drive, or travel but I have done it all in my past years.

You are probably wondering by now what charitable contributions I have made in my lifetime. I have tried to be generous to people who needed a little boost along the way.

I have saved the most important part of my life for last. This was marrying my wife of 68 years, Betty McEnroe. She supported me in most of my schemes, except maybe the trip to New York to sell milk during a milk strike! My love for her has been a constant through these many years. Thank you honey!

I am survived by my sister-in-law Stephanie McEnroe of Painted Post, New York, my sister-in-law Lynn Sullivan of Charleston, South Carolina, my brother-in-law Jack Hart of Columbia, South Carolina, 15 nieces and nephews and many great and great, great nieces and nephews.

In ending this, you probably wish someone else had written my obituary. It would have been much shorter! This was my last chance at expressing myself. I leave you with my favorite saying: “If you are born to hang you will never drown!”

My love to all my family and friends.

—Paul McEnroe

Graveside services and burial will take place at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022 at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Route 22, Amenia, New York, with Rev. R. Kent Wilson officiating. Following the graveside service, friends and family are invited to Troutbeck, 515 Leedsville Road, Amenia for a repast.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Potter League for Animals, 87 Oliphant Lane, Middletown, RI 02842, www.potterleague.org/donate.

Local arrangements entrusted to Hufcut Funeral Home, 3159 Route 22, Dover Plains, NY. To send the family an online condolence, please visit www.hufcutfuneralhome.com

Latest News

Swift House committee learns of potential buyer at first meeting

Swift House in Kent.

By Ruth Epstein

KENT — The fate of the Swift House is once again front and center after the newly formed Swift House Investigation Committee held its first meeting Tuesday, Feb. 24 — and learned that a local attorney is interested in buying the historic property.

At the meeting’s outset, committee member Marge Smith said local attorney Anthony Palumbo has expressed interest in purchasing the building. “He loves it and said he’d be honored to buy it and maybe lease part of it back to the town. He would be OK with a conservation easement.” She said he supports several previously proposed uses, including a welcome center and exhibition space.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sharon median home price rises to $710,000 as inventory tightens

119 Amenia Union Road — A four-bedroom, 2.5-bath home built in 1872 on 4.42 acres recently sold for $522,500.

Photo by Christine Bates

SHARON — The 12-month trailing median price for a single-family home in Sharon increased to $710,000 for the period ending Jan. 31, 2026 — its highest point since September 2024 as home values across much of Connecticut continued to edge higher.

The figure marks an increase from the $560,000 median recorded for the 12 months ending Jan. 31, 2025, and from $645,000 for the comparable period ending Jan. 31, 2024. While January and February are typically slow months, the 12-month rolling figure reflects a broader reset.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent's towering snowman honors Robbie Kennedy

Jeff Kennedy visits the 20-foot-high snowman located in the Golden Falcon lot in Kent that was created in honor of his late brother Robbie Kennedy.

Photo by Ruth Epstein

KENT – Snowman Robbie stands prominently in the center of town, just as its namesake — longtime Kent resident Robbie Kennedy — did for so many years.

The 20-foot-high frozen sculpture pays tribute to Kennedy, who died Feb. 9, at the age of 71. A beloved member of the community, he was a familiar sight riding his bicycle along town roads waving to all he passed. Many people knew him from his days working at Davis IGA, the local supermarket. He was embraced by the Kent Fire Department, where he was named an active emergency member and whose members chipped in to buy him a new bike, and by the Kent School football team where coach Ben Martin made him his assistant. At Templeton Farms senior apartments, he was the helpful tenant, always eager to assist his neighbors.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Help Wanted

PART-TIME CARE-GIVER NEEDED: possibly LIVE-IN. Bright private STUDIO on 10 acres. Queen Bed, En-Suite Bathroom, Kitchenette & Garage. SHARON 407-620-7777.

The Salisbury Association’s Land Trust seeks part-time Land Steward: Responsibilities include monitoring easements and preserves, filing monitoring reports, documenting and reporting violations or encroachments, and recruiting and supervising volunteer monitors. The Steward will also execute preserve and trail stewardship according to Management Plans and manage contractor activity. Up to 10 hours per week, compensation commensurate with experience. Further details and requirements are available on request. To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and references to info@salisburyassociation.org. The Salisbury Association is an equal opportunity employer.

Keep ReadingShow less
To save birds, plant for caterpillars

Fireweed attracts the fabulous hummingbird sphinx moth.

Photo provided by Wild Seed Project

You must figure that, as rough as the cold weather has been for us, it’s worse for wildlife. Here, by the banks of the Housatonic, flocks of dark-eyed juncos, song sparrows, tufted titmice and black-capped chickadees have taken up residence in the boxwood — presumably because of its proximity to the breakfast bar. I no longer have a bird feeder after bears destroyed two versions and simply throw chili-flavored birdseed onto the snow twice a day. The tiny creatures from the boxwood are joined by blue jays, cardinals and a solitary flicker.

These birds will soon enough be nesting, and their babies will require a nonstop diet of caterpillars. This source of soft-bodied protein makes up more than 90 percent of native bird chicks’ diets, with each clutch consuming between 6,000 and 9,000 caterpillars before they fledge. That means we need a lot of caterpillars if we want our bird population to survive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stephanie Haboush Plunkett and the home for American illustration

Stephanie Haboush Plunkett

L. Tomaino
"The field of illustration is very close to my heart"
— Stephanie Plunkett

For more than three decades, Stephanie Haboush Plunkett has worked to elevate illustration as a serious art form. As chief curator and Rockwell Center director at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, she has helped bring national and international attention to an art form long dismissed as merely commercial.

Her commitment to illustration is deeply personal. Plunkett grew up watching her father, Joseph Haboush, an illustrator and graphic designer, work late into the night in his home studio creating art and hand-lettered logos for package designs, toys and licensed-character products for the Walt Disney Co. and other clients.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.