Paul LeBaron Raspe
May 30, 1938 ~ December 15, 2023
Born in:
Boston, MA
Resided in:
Hamden, CT
Paul L. Raspe of Hamden, CT passed away at CT Hospice in Branford. He was the loving husband of Julia Blue Raspe. Last November the two celebrated forty happy years together.
Paul’s day job was that of an engineer. In the Greater New Haven area he was best known as an audio archivist. He seriously believed that performers of music should be able to experience and enjoy their own performances as listeners, too. Many of those reading this obituary are or were beneficiaries of that mission. His final recording event was Julia’s July recital celebrating 50 years of song.
As a Unitarian Universalist Church member, he was a “doer” – serving in leadership positions, volunteering as a woodworker and carpenter, audio engineer, and worship leader, especially at the Maundy Thursday and Sunday-after-Christmas music services. He designed and gave holiday ornaments to congregants. As one of his fellow church members recalls – “He was our pillar.” His handmade wooden chalice lit nearly every worship service and his wood carvings adorn the church building.
Paul and Julia met because of his sharing the love of music and art with her. Their son Jaron (recorder), his wife Marly (keyboard, winds, and strings), and their son Oliver (song, dance, and violin) continue Paul’s appreciation and love of music.
Paul’s older brother Phillip (predeceased by his wife Carol), their two sons Jeff and Gordon (with Gordon’s wife Teresa and their children, Stephanie, Phillip and Victoria), and sister-in-law Ruth Anne Blue, plus extended family and friends, will all miss Paul’s gentle humor, kindness, and altruism.
He was a regular donor to many causes. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Neighborhood Music School in New Haven or The American Cancer Society.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of New Haven, 608 Whitney Avenue, New Haven.
Services
Memorial Service: March 2, 2024 11:00 am
First Unitarian Universalist Society of New Haven
608 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
Keeping all the Raspes in my thoughts and prayers.
Quiet, kind,smart and generous- that has been my experience of Paul Raspe. I will be forever grateful to him for unlocking the mystery of some old reel-to-reel tapes that I found from my husband’s past. Instead of being lost forever, these original compositions have been archived onto a memory stick thanks to Paul’s technical expertise. He has also been invaluable in helping our ensemble group, coached by Julia, by recording our performances. Thank you, thank you, Paul for preserving the past and your unwavering support in all things musical.
With love,
Pam Elliott and
Kingsley & Sundari Birdsall