Obituary : Paul V. Cramer
Paul V. Cramer of West Tisbury died on July 3 at the Newton Wellesley Hospital at the age of 83. He was born on Oct. 12, 1925 in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Leo and Lillian, and was the eldest of two children.
Mr. Cramer graduated East Rockaway High School in 1943 and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He fought in the 93rd Chemical Mortar Battalion in Patton's 3rd Army in the European Theater. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and crossed into Germany where he helped liberate the Nazi death camp, Buchenwald. He was honorably discharged in 1946, having won five medals for his service. (In order of precedence: the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)).
Having returned to the United States, he met Janice Helen Mathers of East Rockaway in 1948, married her in 1951, and was married to her for more than 58 years until his death. Together they raised five children: Stephen, Michael, Jean Powers (of West Tisbury), Peter, and Paul.
Mr. Cramer began work weighing imported commodities, originally in Philadelphia and then in New York. He was a successful businessman in lower Manhattan for most of his career, having co-founded Walker Weighing Corporation with his partner Charles Walker in 1958. He retired from the weighing business in 1991 and moved permanently to the Vineyard.
Mr. Cramer first came to Martha's Vineyard in 1972. He and Janice built a house in Sengekontacket on County Road in Oak Bluffs, which they owned from 1974 until 1998, at which time they moved to Pond Road in Deep Bottom Pond. On the Vineyard, he enjoyed fishing, clamming, golf, and boating, but more than anything making new friends. He made numerous Vineyard friends throughout the Island with his generosity and enjoyment of good food and good stories.
Mr. Cramer was a devoted parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oak Bluffs, yet he was a familiar presence at St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Edgartown as well. He generously donated various ceramic creations to both.
Mr. Cramer is survived by his wife Janice; his five children; his 10 grandchildren; and his sister, Sister Salvatore Cramer of Scranton, Penn.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557; or the Disabled American Veterans.
A memorial service was held at Sacred Heart on July 18 and he is buried next to his grandson, Joseph Beaulieu, in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Oak Bluffs. He will be remembered at St. Andrews on October 4.
