Paul John Sodano, 68, of Lexington, MA passed away peacefully at his home on December 2, 2022.

He was born in Boston and grew up in Somerville, graduating from Concord-Carlisle High School. Sports were a large part of his youth, particularly football and hockey. His love for the sports continued throughout his life.

He attended Northeastern University, earning a degree in finance.

After college, he spent some of his most wonderful years traveling the world. He lived and worked in Italy, France, Greece, Germany, England, Israel, Denmark, Tunisia, and India, just to name a few. As he learned more about the interesting and adventurous things he could do in each place, he kept lengthening his trip, turning what was supposed to be a four month trip into four years. Everywhere he went he earned respect for his hard work, his open mind, and his love of people, immersing himself fully in each culture. He was truly a citizen of the world.

Back in the US, Paul found his way into a banking career, ultimately serving Needham Bank as Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Lending, a job he thoroughly enjoyed and kept up until the very last days of his illness.

Paul and Mary were matched at a friend's holiday party. After wooing her with the finest dinner of her life at Café Budapest, they dated and then were married on October 27, 1984 – the date of Paul's parents' 33rd anniversary and his grandparents' 66th anniversary. Their son Michael arrived in June 1989, and it must be said: he has been an absolute rock throughout Paul's illness, as has Michael's girlfriend, Sarra Sabouri.

Paul also leaves his father Roy, his brother Larry (Betsy), his mother-in-law, Mary L. Murphy, brothers-in-law John (Tracy) Martin, Chris (Madeline) Martin, and Bill (Kate) Murphy, and his sisters-in-law Liz Watson, Elaine Murphy, and Sharon Murphy, as well as many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Paul's mother, Mary Micheli Sodano, and his brothers-in-law Tom Watson, Arno Haberkorn, and Dick Murphy predeceased him.

Paul will be missed in the climbing community. As an avid rock and ice climber, he could often be found in the Gunks, the White Mountains, or the Quincy Quarries among Appalachian Mountain Club friends. He was an accomplished climber whose passion for climbing spanned decades.

Paul's health issues took him far too soon. He savored the days that he had, enjoying his deck, surrounded by loved ones and cheering on the hometown sports teams. His heart may have failed him in one way, but in terms of loving his family and friends — and life itself — it was a model specimen.

A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Paul asked that friends and family consider supporting the New Hampshire Mountain Rescue Service ( www.nhmrs.org )