Paul L. Gaines Sr. passed away at his home in Newport, Rhode Island, on June 25, 2020, after a short illness. He was the husband of Jo Eva Johnson Gaines.
Paul L. Gaines was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on April 20, 1932, to the late Pauline (Jackson) Gaines and Albert P. Gaines. The youngest of six children, he attended the Newport public schools before earning a bachelors degree in education at Xavier University of Louisiana in 1955. From 1955 to 1957 he served in Europe with the Second Armored Division of the U.S. Army. After his honorable discharge, he served in the Army Reserves for four years before separation. In 1968 he earned a masters degree in counseling at Bridgewater State College (now University) in Massachusetts.
Mr. Gaines taught social studies, health and physical education at Thompson Junior High School. At Rogers High School where he taught history, he was also the assistant and then the head basketball coach. After nine years of teaching in the Newport public schools, in 1968 he became assistant to the president for minority affairs and affirmative action at Bridgewater State College. He retired in 1996 after a 37-year career in education. Upon his retirement, the Afro-American Alumni Society established the Paul L. Gaines Scholarship to benefit deserving Rhode Island and Massachusetts minority students majoring in education or counseling at Bridgewater State College.
In 1968, the Newport City Council appointed Mr. Gaines to fill an unexpired term on the Newport School Committee. He was then elected to a full term. In 1977, Mr. Gaines became the first African American elected to the Newport City Council since the turn of the century. In September 1981, the councilmembers elected him chairman of the city council and mayor of Newport. He was the first African American mayor in New England. During his tenure, the designs and planning for the Newport Police Station and the Newport Tourism and Convention Center were finalized.
Mr. Gaines record of public service included election to the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention in 1985, a three-year term on the Advisory Council of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; the Rhode Island Ethics Commission (charter member); and the Newport Canvassing Authority (chairman, 1997-2006). In addition, he sat on the Board of Trustees of St. Michaels Country Day School, the Newport Historical Society, and the Newport Public Schools Equity in Education Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Newport County Community Mental Health Center; Newport Public Library Board of Trustees; Presidents Advisory Board, U.S. Naval War College, Newport; Co-Chair Advisory Board CCRI-Newport Campus; Life Member, NAACP; Newport Sports Advisory Commission; Newport Hospitality Commission and Newport Hospital Corporation.
As chair of the Committee for the Renovation of Patriots Park in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Mr. Gaines oversaw the construction of a monument for the First Rhode Island Regiment (the Black Regiment) that fought in the Revolutionary War. The monument was dedicated in 2006.
Mr. Gaines was inducted into the Newport Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2005, Mr. Gaines delivered the keynote address at the 58th Annual Reading of the George Washington Letter to the Congregation of Touro Synagogue in Newport. In 2006 he received the Living the Dream Award of the Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission.
Mr. Gaines was predeceased by his five siblings: Albert Jr, William, Robert, Margaret and Estelle. He is survived by his wife and four children: Jena Gaines, Patricia Gaines (Michael Dean), Paulajo Gaines (Hon. William White Jr), and Paul Gaines Jr.; two grandsons, Zachary Gaines Mays and Nicolas Gaines Mays; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be private. A celebration of his life will be held in late summer.
Tributes
J desousa wrote on Aug 28, 2020:
"A greatand humble man who made education a top prorities for minority students and other students at bsc unviversity we as student want to say thank you paul gaines we will walk by faith and not by sight by your example may god be with you paz siempre j desousa class of 1983"
Charlotte Hall-Kiss wrote on Jul 18, 2020:
"So sorry for your loss! May my God father R.I.P."
Shirley wrote on Jul 3, 2020:
"So sorry for your loss very nice man ,may he rest in ? ?God Bless?"
Valorie Burton wrote on Jul 1, 2020:
"Uncle Paul was truly phenomenal. We are thinking about you and praying for you Aunt Jo Eva, and Paula, Patti, Paul and Gena.. Love, Valorie Burton Burford and family"
Dave Wixted wrote on Jun 30, 2020:
"The man in the last pew on the right in St Joseph's Church at 7 am Sunday Mass was usually Paul Gaines, a kind of unofficial greeter and smiling presence. On a dark morning in mid winter, Paul was generally a warm ray of sunshine spreading good cheer and offering a friendly quip to all that he met. Prayers are generally offered differently by each of us and Paul's prayer was a gesture of his own kind of special communion which made us feel touched and warmed. Paul's gift will always be deeply missed but very fondly remembered. In Paul's memory we offer thanks, love and sincere condolences to Jo Eva."
Elaine Ferreira wrote on Jun 30, 2020:
"My sincere condolences to the entire Gaines family.I will always remember Mr. Gaines (as we knew him at BSC) as a genuinely kind man. He always greeted you with his pleasant smile as you passed him on campus....a fond memory in my heart of the old BSC (now BSU a much bigger campus). I also new Paul Jr. and wanted to send along a personal condolence to him. Your Dad was a fine man and left a wonderful legacy. Perhaps you remember me, Elaine (Wambolt) Ferreira - I worked in the Student Union back when your Dad worked at the College and you were a student.... I am still working at the Rondileau Campus Center, which will now be known as the Rondileau Student Union as of tomorrow. Many good memories..... that will always include your Father, a great man.My prayer is that the fond memories of your family will comfort you all through the days ahead.In sympathy, God bless you. Elaine"
Peter J Manning wrote on Jun 29, 2020:
"To the Gaines Family, sincere condolences. Met him at Thompson and later at Rogers. Mr Gains was a true gentleman. Rogers, Class of 1961"
John and Mary Canole wrote on Jun 29, 2020:
"Dear JoEva and Family,We are so sad to hear about Paul's death. He was a wonderful man and friend and we will miss him. He contributed so very much to our city and schools, a role model for all of us. We wish you very fond memories of Paul to help lighten your grief. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. "
Serstling@cox.net wrote on Jun 29, 2020:
"Paul Gaines Jr. and family,We would like to send our sincerest condolences. We have fond memories of working with you Paul Jr. at Newport Mental Health and feel that through you, we got to know how wonderful your father was. Its often so hard to capture all the good that a man like Paul Sr accomplished and what a difference he made in this world. He will never be forgotten by the City of Newport and its families. We wish you all peace and love.Susan and Chris Erstling"
ANN VORRO wrote on Jun 29, 2020:
"JoEva and family --so sorry for your loss --may Paul R.I.P."
Jeff Field wrote on Jun 29, 2020:
"Mrs.J.E .Gaines and Family, My sincere regrets for Mr. Gaines passing. A teacher ,coach ,Administrator and more important to me a friend. Whenever we'd accidently meet and talked I didn't want the conversation to end. Vaguely knowing Mr. Gaines but knowing of him from his athletic and scholastic skills when at Thompson Jr. High I soon learned the real person he was when playing varsity basketball at Rogers High for him in person. He was probably one of the most dignified individuals I had met and expect to meet in my life. My sorrows extend to Mrs. Gaines, Jena, Paulajo and Paul Jr., "
Deborah Arnold wrote on Jun 29, 2020:
"To the Gaines family we would like to express our heartfelt sadness for the passing of Paul. Having the opportunity of knowing him over the years, through the city council, but more importantly St.Josephs Church,he will forever be remembered. We are grateful for his service to the community.God Bless Brian & Debbie Arnold and family"
ptrckfmrphy@verizon.net wrote on Jun 28, 2020:
"AS THE CITY HISTORIAN AND A FRIEND OF PAUL, CONDOLENCES TO ALL THE GAINES FAMILY ON HIS PASSING. NEWPORT WILL NOT SEE HIS CLONE AGAIN. MAY GOD HOLD HIM, JO EVA, AND ALL THE FAMILY IN THE HALLOW OF HIS HAND."
Gail Ruggieri wrote on Jun 28, 2020:
"Paul was one of the people I've most admired...he made everyone feel cared about, had endless integrity and kindness, a wonderful, warm smile, and such humility about all the things he contributed to in the community and beyond. My sincere sympathies to his family. May he rest in piece."
Denise Williams wrote on Jun 28, 2020:
"Rest easy Mr Gaines! Your contributions to the community were amazing. OUR FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR of Newport. You set the tone and you will never be forgotten. Take your rest My Brother. Condolences to the Family!"
Kathi Crowe wrote on Jun 28, 2020:
"Paul Gaines was one of the kindest, most generous people I have had the pleasure of knowing. My father lived him dearly and I understand why. I will hold my memories of him and his wonderful stories near to my heart forever. Hi Eva, please know my prayers are with you and your family."
J. Clement Cicilline wrote on Jun 27, 2020:
"To the Gaines Family,We are so saddened about Paul's death. We always loved and admired him. We remember how welcoming he and all of you were to our whole family when we came to Newport.. He had a ready and warm smile and was always interested in what we were doing. We had birthday parties together and we even have incriminating photos of the kids wearing those silly, multicolored cone hats. We spent a lot of time in the youth hockey league at St. George's, but he never got used to having cold feet...basketball was his preferred, winter sport in which he excelled. Then there were the adult parties and jazz festivals, politics, just a lot of activity, some serious, but others lots of fun. Paul was a very special guy. He was all about being fair and giving everyone an opportunity to succeed. He encouraged a lot of kids to stay in school. He did a lot of good in his lifetime. We will miss him a lot and we will keep him in our hearts and prayers.Love, The Cicilline Family"