Paul W. Dengel

September 9, 1971 – December 27, 2025
Age 54

 

Visitation:

 

Friday, January 2, 2026

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

 

Funeral Mass:

 

Saturday, January 3, 2026
9:30 am

St. Raymond RC Church
263 Atlantic Avenue
East Rockaway, New York
11518

 

Private Cremation

Paul William Dengel

September 9^th, 1971 – December 27^th, 2025

Paul William Dengel, 54, passed away unexpectedly on December 27^th, 2025, surrounded with love by his wife, Lydia, and sons, Wells and Gus.

Paul leaves behind a legacy of kindness, gentleness and love. Beloved son of William (deceased) and Dorothea Dengel.  Cherished brother to Greg (Samantha), Dan (Ralphy), Nancy (Jeff), Stephen (Rachel), and Lori. He was loved by the combination of his 13 nieces and nephews, and a loyal friend to all that were fortunate to know him.

The oldest of six children, Paul was a beloved “big brother” to his five younger siblings, a role that he took seriously and lovingly throughout his lifetime. A lifelong Long Islander, Paul grew up in a household filled with love and laughter – stopping whatever he was doing to run home for family dinner when he heard the church bells ring, and spending every Sunday visiting his grandparents, which he continued to do into adulthood.

Saint Raymond (East Rockaway) played a significant role throughout his life. Paul attended Saint Raymond School from 1^st – 8^th grade, walking to and from school with his siblings. He was an alter server at the church. Paul was also a member of Scout Troop 332 with his father and brothers. From a young age Paul would set goals and let nothing stand in his way of achieving them. An early example of this was becoming an Eagle Scout in 8^th grade. He went on to share this love of scouting to the 3^rd generation of Dengel scouts – his sons and nephew.

Paul graduated from East Rockaway High School. It was during this time that his love of music was born. From New Wave to Hardcore, from Punk to Industrial, music became an ever-present and significant part of his life. Paul’s love of music crossed genres and included bands from around the world. This love was passed on to his sons from an early age. While most children went to bed listening to lullaby’s, Wells and Gus fell asleep to Depeche Mode and Interpol. Music was a member of the family.

Paul went on to attend Millersville University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Communications. During this time, he was a DJ at the school radio station, where you could hear him every Saturday night from 10 PM to 2 AM. He went on to support local bands, booking shows at small venues and at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster. It was here, at Millersville, that another significant, defining moment in his life took place, the founding of Motherbox Records. As an independent record label, Paul went on to produce 7-inch records for many bands, giving people a chance to hear music that they may not have heard otherwise. This wasn’t a hobby or a job for Paul; this was a passion. The members of these bands became lifelong friends, with two being the namesake of his oldest son, Harrison Wells.

It was also during this time that Paul met his (future) wife, Lydia, when she complimented him on his Ramones shirt in Lyle Dining Hall. And with that great pick-up line came the beginning of his own family.

In 2006, Paul had a critical medical incident which marked another defining moment in his life. Through God’s grace, Paul was given 20 additional years of life, and he lived each of those days to the fullest. From this incident Paul took on another role, that of a triathlete. It began with a single step, literally. Paul started out walking. Then he decided to run a 5K. Then short triathlons. Through tireless training, strength of mind, and a spirit that would never give up, Paul became an Ironman, not once, but four times; and he didn’t do this alone. He was part of the Wildwood Warriors, of RAW, and many other groups. Paul was a tireless advocate and source of inspiration for his fellow athletes. No one who has raced with Paul will ever forget seeing him on the racecourse, with his big beard, his Viking costume and hammer, cheering on others. It was never just about him. Paul gained joy from others’ success as well.

On the professional side, Paul was a Senior Manager at FedEx 116, North Bethpage. There were many long hours, longer weeks, and the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas will forever be known as “Peak”. But what really mattered to Paul were his “people”. Paul always looked for ways to keep his staff motivated, to bring joy, no matter how small. He was a tireless advocate for others. He took the time to recognize and acknowledge his team’s hard work; he knew success came from the team, not from a person. Paul was a leader who cared, and that is how he will be remembered.

Paul and Lydia were recent “empty nesters”. While there was physical distance with the boys, the father-son bond knew no distance. There were daily interactions through phone and text. These ranged from the simple, “Hi”, to watching sports together (virtually) in real-time, to conversations about music, upcoming shows, and festivals, including festivals in Germany, Malta, and Poland. Paul never lost his passion for music. His retirement plan was to travel the world with Lydia attending different music festivals as well as watching his favorite bands in smaller NYC and Brooklyn venues. Lydia, Wells, and Gus plan to fulfill this dream in his stead.

Though Paul had many passions in life, nothing was more important to Paul than his role as father. From the moment Wells and Gus were born, they became his whole world. The memories, lessons, and experiences he shared with his boys are endless, the love boundless. Paul taught his sons to be fearless, independent, and persistent. When they were sad, he was sad. When they were happy, he was happy. With his passing, Wells and Gus not only lost their father, but they also lost their best friend. However, a part of Paul will always live on in them. They will take all those lessons, memories, and love, and bring those to their own families. Wells and Gus will be amazing fathers because Paul was an amazing father.

Paul’s passing has left an unfillable hole in those who knew him. His children, his family, his friends, his colleagues. There will never be another Paul. We are devastated and heartbroken, yet we are also blessed and better people for knowing him. Although Paul left us too soon, he lived more in his 54 years than many others do in a lifetime. Thank you, Paul, for just being you.

…..

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to Boy Scouts of America, Troop 332—an organization that meant a great deal to Paul. Scouting was an important part of his life, from his time as a scout alongside his father and brothers, to later sharing that same love and dedication with his sons and nephew.

Donations may be made by visiting TRCscouts.org, selecting “Ways to Give” from the drop-down menu, and choosing Friends of Scouting. Please include “In honor of Paul Dengel – Troop 332” in the comments section.

Thank you for keeping Paul’s family in your thoughts and prayers, and for honoring his life and legacy with your presence and support.