Paul Michael Accorsi Sr., 52, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with ALS on March 22, 2012. He was born in Springfield and was the loving son of Robert R. Accorsi and the late Mary (Hogarth) Accorsi. Paul graduated from Cathedral High School in 1977. He went on to further his education earning his Associates Degree from Holyoke Community College and his Bachelors Degree in Finance from Western New England College in 1982. Paul was the Regional Director of First Niagara Bank in West Springfield for 15 years. He was an active member of many civic and cultural organizations. He was on the Board of Directors for Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation, the Board of the Economical Development of Western MA and the Corporate Board of Directors for the Springfield YMCA. He served for 25 years as the treasurer for Sunshine Village. He was the Co-Chairman of the Annual Brightside Golf Classic and a West Springfield Rotarian. Paul was a member of UNICO for over 25 years during which he was a Past President and Man of the Year Recipient. He was a respected and loved youth hockey and basketball coach for many years. He leaves his loving wife of 24 years, Tamera "Tammy" (Bachli) Accorsi; his 2 children, Paul M. Accorsi Jr. and Gina M. Accorsi both of Springfield; 2 brothers, William Accorsi and his wife Phyllis of Wilbraham and Robert Accorsi and his wife Deborah of Chicopee; 2 sisters, Alyce Clini and her husband Robert of Ludlow and Maryann Wrisley and her husband Michael of Windsor Locks, CT; his mother-in-law, Jeri Bachli; a brother-in-law, Willard Bachli and his wife Christine of Lake Worth, FL; 2 sister-in-laws, Hiedi Hevey and her husband Joe, Tiffany Bachli and her fiance David Clowes; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Paul was predeceased by his sister Nancy Klett. Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Monday, March 26th from 4-8p.m. at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main St., East Longmeadow. Paul's funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 27th from the funeral home at 8:30a.m. followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at Holy Name Church, Springfield at 10a.m. A committal service will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Chicopee. Memorial contributions may be made to the Food Bank of Western MA, P.O. Box 160, Hatfield, MA 01038, Attn: Development Department. www.forastierefuneralhome.com

Published in The Republican from March 24 to March 26, 2012