Paul Tillotson

Tillotson, Paul J. March 2, 1941-June 10, 2024

Paul Tillotson, originally from Barnstaple, Devon, England, but a resident of Rye, NY since 1979, passed away on June 10, 2024.  Paul was born to Thomas and Ada (nee Davey) Tillotson in 1941 and after graduating high school moved on to study History at Oxford University. Shortly after, he met the love of his life, Carol Lock, also from England, and they were later married in April of 1968.

Paul was a hard worker and dedicated many years of service to Colgate-Palmolive.  Later, he served as the Vice President of Marketing for Seagram, where he was the lead developer and marketer for Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum, before venturing off to build his own business, Belle Arbor, based out of Long Island, New York. 

Paul absolutely loved to read, was an active member of a handful of book clubs in Rye, and was always encouraging his family and friends to keep their minds “sharp” and read as much and as often as possible. Paul enjoyed taking walks around Rye, seeing culture-rich films, attending off-Broadway shows and other theater and classical music productions in and around New York City. Paul also enjoyed a good joke, and chances are if you ran into him in more recent years, he would be wearing a tee shirt with some kind of joke or sarcastic remark on it. Most of all, Paul loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren whenever he could.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Ada Tillotson, and his beloved wife Carol in October of 2014. He was the loving husband of the late Carol (nee Lock) Tillotson, devoted father of Gemma (Stewart) Adel of Sarasota, Florida, Robert (Jennifer) Tillotson of Rawlins, Wyoming, and Anna (Ryan) Langenus of Briarcliff Manor, New York. He was also the cherished grandfather of Elise Adel of Sarasota, Florida, and Briana and Avery Langenus of Briarcliff Manor, New York. Paul also leaves behind his lovely partner Caroll Claps, of Rye, New York, along with many long-time friends such as Steve and Leila Hodge and Peter and Ann Rold of England, as well as Malcolm and Jillian Forrest of Paris, France. 

Cremation will be handled by Pleasant Manor Funeral Home and will be private. A Celebration of Life will be upcoming but will be limited to family. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, please consider sending monetary donations to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City.  Donations can also be made to the Rye Public Library, in memory of Paul, as he was an avid leader of the Current Events Book Club, at the following link: https://friends.ryelibrary.org/fundraising/forms/GND572D8.  Donated funds to the library will be used to purchase non-fiction titles and add a memorial plaque to the “Times” shelf on the second floor.

“Life is like a Monty Python sketch; it’s chaotic, unpredictable, and always hilarious.” -John Cleese

“You’ll have to forgive him, he’s from Barcelona.” -Basil Fawlty, Fawlty Towers (John Cleese)

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