Paul A. Goguen Jr., 66
Paul A. Goguen Jr. passed away suddenly May 4, 2018, in Whitefish. He was 66 years old.
Born on December 12, 1951, in Winthrop, Massachusetts, to Paul A. Goguen Sr. and Barbara Goguen, Paul was the second of six children. He was raised in Bedford, Massachusetts, where he first demonstrated a passion for history and sports. Here, he was introduced to a friend of his sister Eileen’s, Diane Hall, whom he later married on Aug. 26, 1972.
Paul attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering. Although his career took him to Maryland, Michigan and Delaware, it would eventually lead him home to Boston. During this period, Paul put down roots in Medway, Massachusetts, and accomplished his greatest achievements. For more than a decade, he applied his engineering skills with Bechtel Corporation to Boston’s Big Dig, one of the world’s longest and most ambitious tunneling projects. Throughout the woods of Michigan and Maine, Paul cultivated a love of hunting and fishing, no — an obsession — taking great joy and pride in his deep-woods adventures. Paul was the kind of friend who loved to joke and tease but who was also dependable and thoughtful. He had a playful spirit that attracted laughter and the affections of children everywhere he went. He was a role model to the male youth of his family and shared with them what it was to be a good man.
He served on the trustee committee and as a deacon at the Millis, Massachusetts, Church of Christ for a number of years. Most importantly, Paul and Diane raised two daughters, Jenna and Ellie, informally adopted a third and fourth, Lindsey and Tania.
In time, his work would bring him to Virginia and Antofagasta, Chile, before retiring to Montana in 2016, where he married Blanca Sandra Goguen on March 4, 2017. To Blanca, he was a loving husband, teacher, best friend and confidant. To Tania he was a devoted father who wanted to ensure her a safe and happy home with all the opportunities a kid could want and need, in both education and Montana lifestyle.
From the beaches of Ogunquit, Maine, to the hills of Whitefish, Paul’s outgoing personality left a lasting impression on those who knew him. He will be remembered for his laugh, zeal, motivation, competitive nature and passion for adventure.
He is survived by an extensive family including his wife Blanca Goguen, mother Barbara Goguen, both of Whitefish; his siblings, Linda Peters of Salt Lake City, Eileen Marcuvitz of Newport, Rhode Island, Michele Hughes of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Michael Goguen of Whitefish, and Brian Goguen of Naples, Florida; his children, Jenna Goguen Gavula of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Ellie Goguen Rice of Medway, Lindsey Barker of Medway, stepdaughter, Tanya Almendra Fuentealba of Whitefish, stepson John William Corzo of Cucuta, Colombia; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service for Paul will be held in his honor at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, in a private location. Close friends and family are welcome to come celebrate his life.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family on Paul’s webpage at www.austinfh.com. Austin Funeral & Cremation Services in Whitefish is caring for Paul’s family.