Necrology

Paul Loomis Abell '57

Oct. 19, 1935-Nov. 11, 2022

Paul Loomis Abell ’57 died in Simsbury, Conn., on Nov. 11, 2022. Born in Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 19, 1935, and raised in East Hartford, he came to Hamilton from East Hartford High School along with his twin brother, Philip W. Abell ’57. On the Hill, Paul majored in mathematics. He was a member of the International Relations Club as a freshman and of the French Club as a sophomore. In both his second and third years, he was also a member of the Photography Club.

While it is clear that initially he found Hamilton’s academic expectations quite challenging, he found his footing. A letter dated May 21, 1957, began “you have been awarded a Phi Beta Kappa prize …” and Dean Tolles told Paul he had made “distinctive improvement in scholastic achievement and shown scholarly promise.” Another member of Phi Beta Kappa from the Class of 1957 was Philip. 

Paul had already attracted favorable attention with representatives of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Co., for on April 8 he received a letter offering him a position in its Group Pension Department. He began as a trainee there shortly after graduating.

Early in his tenure with Connecticut General, he volunteered for the U.S. Army Reserve, beginning basic training on Jan. 1, 1958, and advanced training in April. Completing his brief active duty in October 1958, Paul remained in the Reserve until January 1964, when he was discharged with the rank of sergeant, E-5. 

It was also in 1958 that he met Mary Louise Cook at the office. They were married on April 25, 1959, in West Hartford, Conn., and made their home initially in nearby Avon. By the end of the 1960s, they had relocated to Simsbury, their home for the rest of Paul’s life. They would have a son and a daughter.

In the course of his career, Paul took on new responsibilities. He advanced from trainee to senior programming manager by 1961. In 1968, he was named assistant secretary to oversee the realignment of data processing operations when Connecticut General merged with Aetna Insurance Co., and in 1977 he was appointed director of project control for the company’s group insurance operations.

Two years later, Paul left Connecticut General (by then known as CIGNA) and accepted the position of director of finance at Robert E. Morris/REM Sales, Inc., a manufacturer of machine tools in Farmington, another Hartford suburb. In 1987, he became vice president and manager in the Personal Trust Special Asset Management Department at Connecticut National Bank.

In retirement, Paul and Mary traveled, making it a point to patronize fine restaurants while doing so, and cultivated their taste for wine. He was curious about the world and those who inhabit it, and was a devoted family man.

Paul L. Abell was predeceased by Philip. He is survived by his wife, two children, and two granddaughters.

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