Obituary: Paul "Zeb" Rich

Paul G. “Zeb” Rich, 65, of Norton and Falmouth, passed away unexpectedly Monday, Dec. 10, 2012.

Born in Brockton Sept. 22, 1947, he was son of the late Clarence P. Sr. and Virginia “Dolly” (Squadrilli) Rich.

Zeb grew up in Norton and was a 1965 graduate of Norton High School where he served as class president and was a member of the basketball team. He also attended Cape Cod Community College.

Prior to retiring, Mr. Rich was employed for 36 years as a postal worker for the U.S. Postal Service. He retired from the Wareham Post Office and formerly worked for many at the Attleboro Post Office.

A lifelong resident of Norton and Falmouth, Zeb was a familiar face in Norton affairs and politics. He was a member of the Norton Democratic Town Committee and was a former member of the Norton School Committee, the Planning Board, the Board of Selectman, the Tri-Centennial Committee and served as a Town Moderator and as a Norton volunteer firefighter.

In Falmouth, he served as a Beach Commissioner and as a Falmouth Town Meeting Representative. Mr. Rich was also a former Bristol County Deputy Sheriff.

Zeb had a lifelong love for sports. He was the number one fan of the Notre Dame “Fighting Irish” and served a s a Massachusetts high school baseball, basketball, softball and football official.

Mr. Rich was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Norton and St. Patrick’s Church in Falmouth. He loved spending time and socializing with family and friends, and will always be remembered for his true patriotic spirit.

He is survived by his sisters and brother Barbara V. Brown and her husband Vincent, Clarence P. “Butch” Rich Jr. and Janet J. O’Reilly and her husband Ronald, all of Norton; his nephews James V. Brown and Jonathan E. O’Reilly and his wife Pia, all of Norton; his grand niece and nephews Stephanie J. Brown, Timothy J. Brown and Patrick R. O’Reilly, all of Norton; as well as many close cousins and friends.

His Funeral Mass, to which relatives ands are invited to attend, will be Saturday, Dec. 15 at 9 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 1 Power St., Norton. Burial will follow in the Norton Common Cemetery in Norton.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, December 14th from 4-8 P.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp St. (Off Route 140, Taunton Ave.) Norton.

In place of flower’s, Zeb’s family would prefer that donations in his memory be made instead to St. Mary’s Church Building Fund, 1 Power St., Norton, MA 02766

For additional information, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com