Obituary of Honorable Paul Sidoran

TACOMA, Wash. -- Honorable Paul Sidoran, of Tacoma, Wash., passed away Jan. 29, 2003, at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital, New Hartford. He was born June 22, 1928, in the town of Oppenheim, the son of the late Fedor (Detko) Sidoran and Anna (Bobbi) Lemak Sidoran. He had 11 brothers and sisters who were raised in the Oppenheim area, and were graduates of the Oppenheim-Ephratah High School. He was united in marriage to the former Alice Jean Laferriere on Jan. 25, 1947, at St. Peter and Paul's Russian Orthodox Church, Herkimer. The couple shared a happy union of 53 years before Mrs. Sidoran predeceased him on Dec. 18, 2000. Mr. Sidoran served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. He later served during both Korean and Vietnam wars. His military service was with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force. Between his Naval and Air Force careers, he acquired his law degree. Upon his retirement from military service as a field grade officer in the Judge Advocate Corps, he went to work for the state of Washington as an administrative law judge. As an administrative law judge he was instrumental in several labor law decisions cumulating with several precedent decisions relating to women's rights for equal pay for equal work, which have had a nationwide effect. Judge Sidoran retired from the state of Washington and went into private practice with the firm of Blado & Straton, Attorneys at Law, in Tacoma, for several years before retiring in 1997. Judge Sidoran, while in the military, was stationed in Germany, Alaska, Virginia, Texas, Washington, Maine, Hawaii and several other locations. Following his retirement, he continued to enjoy traveling and had sought out his roots visiting family members in Russia, among other travels throughout the world. He was a member of the American Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association, Elk's Lodge 174 B.P.O.E., the Ray C. Roberts American Legion Post 1926 and was a life member of the VFW Post 969, all of Tacoma. He was an avid gardener and classical music lover. He is survived by two sons, Richard Paul Sidoran and his wife Frances Cooke Sidoran of Seabrook, Texas and Dana E. Sidoran and his wife Raeleen of Binghamton; a sister, Mary Klosek of Whitesboro; his mother-in-law, Dorothy Willman of Herkimer; his dear friend, Alice Silvernail of Oppenheim; three very special nieces, Evelyn Wilkes and her husband Robert, Binghamton, Sally Madison of Dolgeville and Carol Sidoran of Dolgeville; and a sister-in-law, Mary Sidoran and her children of Marcy. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Eric R. Sidoran and his wife Olga, Ashley Marie, Alison Anna Sidoran, Michelle and Kristen Sidoran; a great-grandson, Joshua Sidoran; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by nine brothers and sisters and a son, Kevin Peter Sidoran who died Aug. 2, 1981. Funeral services will be held Feb. 3, at 9 a.m. from the Holy Family Parish Church, corner of Main and John, Little Falls, where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Charles R. Celeste, pastor of the Holy Family Parish, and the Rev. Dr. Steven A. Scarcia, rector of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Little Falls. Interment will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery, town of Herkimer. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home Inc., 42 N. Ann St., Little Falls, on Sunday, Feb. 2, from noon-4 p.m. and to attend the funeral services Monday morning. It is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Judge Sidoran be considered to the American Lung Association of Mid New York, 587 Main St., Suite 109, New York Mills, 13417. Envelopes are also available at the funeral home for this purpose.