Paul Leo Post, 91, Massena

MASSENA - Paul Leo Post, age 91, of Massena, NY passed away peacefully at home on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Paul was born in Norwood, NY to Charles and Mary (McGinnis) Post on October 3, 1935. Paul was the youngest of 9 children. He attended Norwood-Norfolk High School and was a member of the class of 1953. Following high school, he attended Le Moyne College graduating with a degree in business. He joined the Army following college and travel extensively abroad. He married Josephine Portolese on June 29, 1963. They have four children.

In the early years of his marriage, he experimented with many different jobs to eventually find his role as a business teacher at Massena Central High School where he taught for 25 years until he retired from teaching. His students described him as tough but fair.

His role as a teacher allowed him to pursue other passions. He sold real estate for Fournier Realty before starting his own real estate business, Paul Post Realty. Paul was very handy and his entry into the real estate business was the launching pad for buying and rehabbing properties. He later would be joined in his business by his son Tim.

Throughout his life Paul was an insurance salesman, laborer, shop owner, bar owner, teacher, landlord, realtor and businessman. He made bold choices to enable him to grow professionally. Even with all these life roles, if you asked him to describe himself, he’d say he was a farmer from Norwood.

Paul loved to travel. He was fortunate to travel in the Army. He traveled to New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, and Italy with his family. He encouraged his grandchildren to travel abroad, as he felt this was the key to opening your mind to opportunities.

Paul was a voracious reader of historical non-fiction. He was a rabid sports fan. He loved attending Clarkson hockey games and Syracuse basketball. He was a regular at the Big East Tournament. As it became difficult to attend, he followed sports from his living room chair and discussed it with his daughter Mary Jo. He was the quintessential Irishman who loved to socialize at the bar with a beer.

Paul is survived by his children, Mary Jo McGrath (Bill), Pittsburgh, Timothy Post (Kristin), Massena, Kevin Post (Heidi), Durham, and Peter Post (Jenelle), Kansas City, his grandchildren Olivia, Sophie, Grace, Jackson, Maddy, Bella, Lilly and Abigail. He is also survived by a sister Molly Morgan and Eileen Donovan and his brothers-in-law Sam Portolese (Patti), Pat Portolese (Jane) and sister in-law Cathy Faucher (Richard) and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Josephine, his parents, four sisters and two brothers, and a granddaughter Greer Westbrook.

At Paul’s direction he will be cremated. Arrangements are under the direction of the Phillips Memorial Home.

Family and friends are welcome to call the Phillips Memorial Home, on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00am Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Church of the Sacred Heart with Rev. Mark Reilly officiating. Burial to be held in Calvary Cemetery, Massena.

Those wishing to do so, may acknowledged memorial contributions in Paul’s name to Meals-On Wheels; 70 East Hatfield Street, Massena, NY 13662 or Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley; 6805 US-11, Potsdam, NY 13676.

Family and friends are invited to share condolences, memorial trees, photos and memories by visiting his memorial page at www.PhillipsMemorial.com.