PAUL D. HAND

    Paul D. Hand, 78, husband of Gloria (Zarrella) Hand, of Worcester, entered into his eternal rest on Friday, October 30, 2009 surrounded by his loving family.

    Paul was the son of Samuel and Lauretta (Desautels) Hand of New Bedford. He graduated Assumption College in 1956, The Brooks Army Medical Center in 1964, received his MSW at Boston University in 1959, and his MBA at Anna Maria College in 1985.

    A captain in the United States Army Reserve, Paul received an honorable discharge in 1964.

    He was a social worker at Worcester Children's Friend Society before joining the faculty at Anna Maria College. During his 34 years at Anna Maria, he was named a tenured professor and filled numerous academic and administrative roles including many years as Chairman of the Social Work Dept. until he retired in 1999. He was active in the accreditation site visits for CSWE BSW programs at numerous colleges, for NEACSS site visits, and was involved in international social work programs.

    Paul was a consultant for many social work programs including DYS and a number of nursing homes. He held many civic and professional volunteer positions including the City of Worcester Advisory Human Rights Committee, Assumption College Alumni Assn., Catholic Charities, YOU Inc. board, Critical Incident Stress Mgmt. Team responding to 9/11 as a CISM volunteer in NYC, and the Blessed Sacrament Parish Ecumenical Committee.

    For the Diocese of Worcester, he served on the Commission on Ecumenical & Religious Affairs and represented the Bishop on the Council of Churches Charter Committee. While representing the Diocese, he was chairperson of the Covenant Commission of the Lutheran Synod of New England, the Episcopal Diocese of Western Mass. and the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Springfield and Worcester.

    Paul was chairman of the UMass Prostate Cancer Support Group for many years. An Eagle Scout, his many honors include Key to the City of Worcester, Recognition and Appreciation Award from the City of Worcester, and the John Cardinal Wright Award by the Diocese of Worcester. Paul was inducted into the Delta Epsilon Sigma and Phi Alpha Honor Societies, and was an Outstanding Educator of America. He was a Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Jubilee Ecumenical Award recipient and a longtime member of Blessed Sacrament Parish.

     Paul is survived by his wife of 51 years, Gloria (Zarrella) Hand, and their seven children, Mary Hand of Warfordsburg, PA, Michele Prosser of Holden, Annette Angelo of Sutton, Suzanne Cooney (and Brian) of Bridgewater, Paul D. Hand Jr. (and Nancy) of Shoemakersville, PA, Denise Boudreau (and James) of Worcester, and Joseph Hand (and Marcella) of Barre, a brother, Robert S. Hand (and Doris) of Holland, Mass., a sister, Diana Y. Maciel (and Ronald) of Fairhaven, Mass., 27 grandchildren, a great-grandaughter, and many nieces and nephews.

    Paul's funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 3 from the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M. in Blessed Sacrament Church, 555 Pleasant St., Worcester. Interment will be at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. Calling hours at the funeral home are 4 to 8 P.M. on Monday, November 2.

    Memorial gifts in Paul's memory may be made to Blessed Sacrament Church.