Posted by ArtG/KS on 7/21/11 11:43pm
Msg #390569

This saddens me greatly.

It is with deep regret that I announce the death of Paul Williamson of PAW Notary Service in Inverness Florida. He passed away at 10:30 PM thursday July 21, 2011.

He was the webmaster of the Signing Agent Registry and a most helpful and dedicated friend to many of us in this business. He will be greatly missed.

Reply by Susan/CA on 7/21/11 11:53pm
Msg #390577

OMG...this breaks my heart as well...he was always so helpful and kind. May God Bless him & his family. You are right...he will be greatly missed. :'(

Susan

Reply by Julie/MI on 7/22/11 6:17am
Msg #390620

Such a good guy :( Art I've missed you, too!

May perpetual light shine upon him.

Art, I have "seen" you in ages! One of the regulars from NASA. How have you been?

Very sorry on the loss of your friend, Sylvia.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 7/22/11 7:39am
Msg #390629

Re: Such a good guy :( Art I've missed you, too!

Julie
Paul and I go WAY back.

In 2002 (may have been early 2003) I got an e-mail (followed by a phone call) from Paul
He had just joined the Signing Registry and was needing a mentor and asked me if I would mentor him. We have been friends since then.
Back in 2006 when I was in intensive care Paul called Bruce to see how I was and discovered that because Bruce had an infection he couldn't come to see me in the hospital. The day I came out of intensive care Paul walked into my room. He had driven 2.1/2 hours to see me. He couldn't stay long as he had a 2.1/2 hour drive back home. But Paul was very thoughtful like that. He was a sweetheart, a gentleman and a very good friend.
Both he and Ann took us in when we had to evacuate because of the hurricanes in 2004, opening up his home to us.
He hasn't been well for a long time, but this was such a shock.

Reply by NJDiva on 7/22/11 10:01am
Msg #390658

OMGosh! I had just PM'd him last week... n/m

Reply by NJDiva on 7/22/11 10:05am
Msg #390659

I just PM'd him last week because

he commented on a post. I hadn't seen him on in a while and wanted to let him know I had missed him and his experience.

I joined his site (was it?) Signing Agent.com because of how much I respected him. Wow! We've lost a very important part of this forum.

I'll certainly be keeping him and his family in my thoughts and prayers. Sending blessings...

Cheryl in NJ

Reply by NJDiva on 7/22/11 10:19am
Msg #390662

That would be Signing Registry... n/m

Reply by Pam/NM on 7/22/11 12:02am
Msg #390580

A true gentleman who generously and graciously extended himself to all. His wisdom and insight as well as his gentle responses were a trademark. He was definitely one of the good guys!

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 7/22/11 12:05am
Msg #390583

RIP, Paul. I have had the honor of speaking to him on the

phone many times.
He was one of the most knowledgeable and honorable notary signing agent , and most importantly , human being that I have ever known.
He will be greatly missed.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 7/22/11 12:18am
Msg #390586

Re: RIP, Paul. I have had the honor of speaking to him on the

I am so sad to hear this. We had a little connection as he used to live near me when he went to school here in Southern IL. I did not know him then. May God wrap his arms around his family at this difficult time. Sure going to miss his knowledge. I learned something from every post he ever made.

Reply by Notarysigner on 7/22/11 12:56am
Msg #390600

RIP one of a kind. n/m

Reply by 101livescan on 7/22/11 12:25am
Msg #390588

PAW was a knowledgeable, common sense man of many talents. This savvy gentleman will be sorely missed on this board. I am sending my heartfelt compassion to his family and friends. It is with deep sorry I say, PAW, rest in peace. Such a fine man.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 7/22/11 12:28am
Msg #390591

What's the site to light the candles. Can't find it.

Reply by Yoli/CA on 7/22/11 12:44am
Msg #390597

http://light-a-candle.org/

Paul will be deeply missed. He gave us all so much through his knowledge and kindness. RIP.

Reply by Vince/KS on 7/22/11 8:34am
Msg #390644

Started candles in Leisure section

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=NR

Reply by HisHughness on 7/22/11 12:42am
Msg #390596

This is absolutely devastating. Paul was, hands down, the most knowledgable, the most helpful member of this forum. To say that he will be missed doesn't even come close to the mark. The forum will simply not be the same without him, because all of us who post here on notary issues always waited to see if Paul would weigh in on the matter. And when he did, it was always the definitive answer.

All that aside, though, Paul had one distnction above all others. He was a gentleman, in the original and the fullest sense of the term.

This was his last post, on July 3. Like all his contributions, this one nailed the issues head on.

***
You're right. Dower and curtesy have been abolished and Connecticut is not a community property state. Although Connecticut does not have homestead laws that mirror other states, there is a post judgment exemption under C.G.S 52-352a(t) up to $75,000 based on fair market value less statutory liens or voluntary liens. A spouse does not have to join on a conveyance of the homestead or any other conveyance of real property. (Source: Stewart Title)

If spouse isn't around, she can't sign anyway. IMO, it appears that the title company (probably a non-CT business) is assuming that the spouse must sign the "legals", which isn't true in CT. I would check with title explaining to them the conditions mentioned in the first paragraph above and see what they have to say about getting the spouse's signatures.
***

RIP.

Reply by Roger_OH on 7/22/11 12:58am
Msg #390601

A tremendous loss to the notary community...

I cannot adequately express how much I learned from Paul over the years. His knowledge was truly boundless, and his willingness to help legendary.

Even when when some posters would get particularly animated or bellicose, Paul was always the voice of calm and reason, never getting caught up in the histrionics.

The KnowledgeBase on his website, his efforts in co-founding and launching the Signing Registry, and literally thousands of advice nuggets on this and other forums speak to his concern for, and dedication to, all notaries.

There has been no one else quite like him on this board, nor will there be. He was absolutely one of a kind. Thanks for all you've contributed to the notary profession, and the countless number of people you helped. RIP, my friend.

I hope that we can somehow honor his memory with something special , befitting the generosity and expertise he exuded.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 7/22/11 1:29am
Msg #390603

Dammit. It's a black arrow

that pierces our hearts -
ripping out that empty hole in each of us -
that space he occupied in our lives -
those gaping holes in us
we are left to fill-
with our memories.

What a fiend, that archer!

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 7/22/11 1:50am
Msg #390605

Sad news indeed. Paul leaves a pair of empty shoes behind no one can fill.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/22/11 1:57am
Msg #390606

OMG!! What a huge loss to our little community!!

Thank you, Art, for letting us know. Like the others, my heart goes out to his family. Most of us only ever had a little piece of his wisdom, knowledge and gentlemanly example, but it was a piece that impacted most of us in so many positive ways. His passing will leave a gaping hole here that I'm sure we will feel for a very long time. When I grow up, I want to be like him...

Reply by Cam/CA on 7/22/11 2:14am
Msg #390609

Sad, sad news, we have indeed lost a special person. PAW

was always willing to share his knowledge. A true gentleman always. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family

Reply by MichiganAl on 7/22/11 2:10am
Msg #390607

Stunned and saddened

Paul's impact on all of us and on our profession has been immeasurable. This is a sad sad day.

Reply by BrotherOwner on 7/22/11 3:02am
Msg #390610

Re:Indeed-Stunned and saddened and speechless. He WAS a true

Gentleman, and supporter of the entire community. A HUGE loss.

Reply by SharonH/OH on 7/22/11 5:55am
Msg #390619

Wow - what horrible news to wake up to

I didn't know him, but always looked for his posts. He was so knowledgeable and so willing to share that knowledge. He will be greatly missed.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 7/22/11 6:37am
Msg #390622

My heart is heavy this morning.

When I first started in this business, PAW was my mentor. I called him often and he always made time to help me and answer my questions. What a sweet, kind, and wonderful man he was!

Reply by BossLadyMD on 7/22/11 8:06am
Msg #390636

He will be dearly missed. A true icon on this forum. n/m

Reply by ArtG/KS on 7/22/11 8:59am
Msg #390647

One of his private emails to me On May 4th.

His wife Ann phoned me with the news at 11:30 Central time last night. I was almost speechless and stuned. Yet I was affraid that this was coming. His last personal email to me was on May 4. I am posting it here as a pure copy and paste. He and shared one other thing. We both served in US Navy. In part, I believe it was Tricor that let him down. But please, no one take Tricor to task on this, he wouldn't want that. Here is that email:

Hi Art,

No, things have not be well. I'm fighting pneumonia and pulmonary
fibrosis, coupled with my pre-existing heart disease. Drugs have me
really under the weather, no gumption, no appetite, everything tastes
like crap and my BP is way too low. How low? You ask. How about
74/54. That's right, seventy four, not a misprint.

I've completely stopped doing closings and general notary work
because of all this.

I've already notified the undertaker. <grin>

Now a new wrinkle. My primary care doctor takes my insurance (TriCare
Prime), but the hospital he is affiliated with, and other doctors do
not. How is he suppose to treat me? (All this changes in 4 months.
Medicare will be primary and TriCare will be secondary. Then I can go
see whoever I want.)

Stay healthy. Anything else just isn't worth it. LOL!!

Reply by Notarysigner on 7/22/11 9:30am
Msg #390652

Re: One of his private emails to me On May 4th.

I just re read his last message to me, he really was supportive. He told me not to give in to what was happening.....I won't post it, this THREAD is all about PAW.

Reply by ME/NJ on 7/22/11 9:57am
Msg #390656

A very respected person in our field

Our thoughts and prayers will go out to your family. You will be missed.

Reply by janCA on 7/22/11 12:23pm
Msg #390681

I am stunned!

I didn't personally know PAW but have had business dealings with him and read each and every one of his posts as he was always the voice of reason, and ALWAYS had the answer. I had been thinking of him the last couple of days because I had not seen him on the boards lately and was wondering if something was going on in his life. Now I know, and this saddens me deeply. PAW, know that this notary forum will miss you greatly and never, ever forget you. RIP.

Reply by John Schenk on 7/22/11 1:40pm
Msg #390688

Very sorry to hear this. I read quite a few of PAW's posts and always found him to be knowledgeable and write informative posts. My prayers are with his family and loved ones.

God bless!

JJ

Reply by S Peterson on 7/22/11 4:42pm
Msg #390713

Saddens me as well, Paul was the consummate professional! I always read his posts, many times searched for them, never passed over them. His life is definately worth Celebrating and my prayers go to his wife, family and friends.

Reply by Belinda/CA on 7/22/11 6:36pm
Msg #390732

I sure am going to miss PAW... I

still want to be like him when I grow up.

Reply by anotaryinva on 7/22/11 7:13pm
Msg #390742

Re: I sure am going to miss PAW... I

Me too. PAW was one of the 'good' ones. He answered all the newbie questions without hesitation, he was a kind soul how thought more of others than of himself.

Reply by Amy Tatusko on 7/22/11 7:14pm
Msg #390743

Re: I sure am going to miss PAW... I

meant to finally sign with my name.

Reply by Smitty/MI on 7/22/11 9:03pm
Msg #390756

This is a sad day in the NotRot World n/m