Paul C. Neal
September 12, 1949 – August 2, 2013
Presented by Joelle Fishman on behalf of the Connecticut Communist Party USA
Paul Neal was just a wonderful guy. He was proud to be a veteran and a union member. He loved his family, and he loved people. And, as he said, he loved his service to the Communist Party.
Paul was a letter carrier. He became a letter carrier because as an African American he could not find a job in his field as an environmental chemical engineer due to racism. After 28 years, the work of a letter carrier caused back injuries and he had to retire early. He remained active on the executive board of his union, National Association of Letter Carriers merged Branch 86, as head trustee. On August 2 he was on vacation with his friend, enjoying time on the beach, when he suffered a massive heart attack and was gone at age 64. It was very hard to comprehend.
Paul always said that he wished he had found the Communist Party earlier in his life. When he met Alicia about 15 years ago, and she told him he talked like a Communist, he wanted to learn more. He liked what he found, signed up, became a club leader, then the chair of our state committee, and a member of this National Committee. At the national convention in 2010 he served on the resolutions committee.
Paul was all about action. If there was a picket line he was there. He enjoyed representing the Communist Party at events and occasions. He loved to take on Rush Limbaugh’s propaganda. He had big plans for retirement and expanding his commitment to the Communist Party.
Paul Neal was a working class hero. We miss him a lot. At our state committee meeting we decided that the best way to celebrate his life is to bring more new members into the Communist Party and YCL, and develop new leaders to carry on the work for jobs, an end to racism, peace and socialism.
Let’s have a moment of silence. Paul Neal presente!
Photo: Paul Neal with co-workers at Letter Carriers union rally, New Haven Green, March 2013. Art Perlo/PW
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Joelle Fishman chairs the Connecticut Communist Party USA. She is a Commissioner on the City of New Haven Peace Commission, serves on the executive board of the Alliance of Retired Americans in Connecticut and is an active member of many economic rights and social justice organizations. She was a candidate for Congress from 1973 to 1982, maintaining minor-party ballot status for the Communist Party in Connecticut's Third Congressional District. As chair of the CPUSA Political Action Commission, she has played an active role in the broad labor and people's alliance that defeated the ultra-right in the 2008 elections and continues to mobilize for health care, worker rights and peace.
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