Throughout the five years I knew Paul, he never stopped finding ways to surprise me. While I had no doubts whatsoever that he would be a great friend to have on the team, the amount of influence he had across every single person he met was astonishing. Every single one of us agreed he was a great person to sit down with and have a one-on-one conversation. I couldn't imagine anyone talking about their life with Paul and not leaving the conversation much more optimistic. He just always knew how to help us get back on the right track and keep pushing toward our dreams. Paul's ability to make all of us laugh further impressed me. Even as he garnered a reputation of being one of the funniest people we knew, I was still amazed at just how frequent and hilarious his jokes were when I was looking at his old messages in our group chat. When it came to talking about our personal interests, I could have never fathomed the knowledge he had across so many topics. I remembered being absolutely mindblown when Cavan told me that Paul's knowledge of Big Brother surpassed his own. I mean, Paul had a serious interest he could have a deep discussion with Cavan about. That's something I don't even have, and I'm his brother!

I can't remember a time where I didn't have a smile on my face after seeing Paul. While I wish I could spend more time with him, I'm glad that I got to know him as well as I did during the brief period our paths crossed.

I had the pleasure of running with Paul for my first two years of high school. My sophomore season was still when covid was in full swing so we couldn’t workout as a team. My first workout day, I was running at the track and Paul was working out with George, Josh, and Anas. Paul asked if I wanted to workout with them I said yes. From that day on I ran with them each day. It was not long after that Paul offered to give me rides home from our practices. Even when he graduated and I did not see him as often, I would get texts out of the blue from Paul asking how school is going, how track is going, how has baseball been, and asking how I’ve been. He always took time out of his day to make sure we are doing well. There is not one memory thinking back that was bad with Paul. Whenever Paul was around everyone was happy. Paul brought laughter and joy to everyone. He was the most supportive, and hard working friend I’ve ever met. Paul was an overall amazing human being. He will be missed but his legacy will last forever. I love you Paul.

So sadened to hear of the this There are no words to express the pain you are feeling ,, but please find peace in the memory of Paulie and the joy he brought to your life. Stay strong for each other . My heart feels for you. 

Praying for the entire family. Ant, I love you and am praying for you and your wife and your entire family. Please reach out, dont walk thru this alone, 708-940-3461 Please reach out

Paul,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I am certain that God has welcomed your son with open arms. May he heal your family and comfort you with beautiful memories. 
I will keep your family and friends in my prayers.

I had the pleasure of spending most of my sophomore, junior and senior years of High School with Paul. Through many seasons of XC, winter track and spring track, Paul was a valuable and talented teammate. I have warm memories of team hangouts and funny Halloween costumes with Paul. My senior year I completed along with Paul in the State meet for Winter track. During the summers I would occasionally cross paths with Paul on morning runs on the boardwalk.

Paul is a compassionate, supportive, and humble friend. During our difficult, back to back seasons I saw qualities in Paul that were admired by the whole team. Without any complaints, he gave 100% in every workout, practice, and race.

Paul will be forever remembered and honored as a teammate and friend in my heart. My deepest condolences go out to Paul’s family.

Paul you are loved and remembered forever. To Paul’s closest family and friends, you are in my prayers, God bless you and send peace over your hearts.

Paul and Deb,
We are deeply sorry for your loss. Please accept our heartfelt condolences.
May God give you all strength to bear this pain and cherish the loving memories.
As next door neighbor, have seen Michael several times doing chores and helping out. A very well behaved young man.

This news has saddened us and our prayers are for peace to the departed soul .

Paul, Debbie & Family,

Please know all of our hearts, prayers and minds are centered on all of you right now. I met Paulie a few times in the office and he was a reflection of his parents and sisters - just a down to earth, standup, good young man and person. God has his arms around him no doubt!

Paul was always the type of person who seemed completely present in every single moment of his life. He had a gift for picking up on others interests and expanding a mundane conversation into the most heartfelt discussion. He genuinely listened and was open to suggestions and never approached anyone with anything but an open mind. That is just one reason why he garnered the respect of all of his peers for his unwavering dedication to his craft. He was an XC runner, sprinter, big weightlifter, he did yoga, ate right, etc. That’s all to say he had my full respect and he inspired me to better myself since here was this guy who was driving in so many lanes at once and still managed to excel in every single one. As a friend, he was always one of the funniest in the room, but always knew the right time for sincerity, and seemed genuinely interested in building bonds with everyone around him regardless of how well he knew someone prior. He was as genuine and awesome as they come, but more than that he was selfless and stoic. I will always remember the last time I saw him when he spent a good hour of that night helping another friend through a very difficult time by lending an ear and a voice. I can’t even put into words how it feels to look back on that now, since he left us only a mere 2 weeks later. He must have been in hell then, but he still did all he could to help someone else, just as he always did. He was truly a hero in every sense of the word. Rest in peace my friend.

All my love

When looking back on all memories I’ve been able to create with Paul I oddly have a hard time picking out a single one, and that’s due to the fact that all the times I got to be around Paul was a memorable experience.

I first met Paul when he joined the cross country team, him being a sophomore and myself being a senior. From day one I took note of his determination and drive to get better and to help those around him. Any chance he got he was all ears in order to become the greatest runner he possibly could and the more I got to know him the more I realized how that extended to many aspects of his life. When Paul found something he wanted he would put his head down and work away until he achieved his goal.

Paul was always someone I looked forward to seeing whenever I came home. This was due to the fascination in seeing how much he had grown since the last time I’d seen him and because I always know he is someone I can rely on and easily talk to.

I’d like to end with this. Paul was a caring, strong, and respectful man and an integral pillar of our friend group. Although our group may be altered we all know that Paul will always be watching over us. I look forward to the day I can meet you once more Paul and may you Rest in Peace.

There are so many things I wish I could say to Paul, but the one thing I want to say the most is thank you. Paul was a friend that I looked forward to seeing during break every time all of us were home. But Paul was more to me than just a friend; he was in so many ways a mentor.

Though a year younger than me, I always looked up to him. I first met Paul (while he was a junior, me a senior) after joining the cross country team. I was new to running and wanted nothing more than to keep up with the guys. Paul was the most influential member of the team to me in those early days when I was still learning. I would go on most long runs with him during practice and he would always give me advice on how to get faster. I remember having to push through the hard days to get better and always having Paul right in front of me to keep me going. He taught me perseverance, dedication, drive; so much of my confidence and motivation today stems from the mentorship I received from him. When I started to get into lifting, I would constantly ask him for advice. He never hesitated to give me workouts and tips.

Paul was kind, caring, and humble, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. I’m glad to have gotten closer to him through running and I’m glad to have been able to call him a friend. Our family of friends won’t be the same without Paul, but we will always keep his memory in our hearts.

Thank you, Paul, for touching all of our lives.

I met Paul when I joined Track my freshman year, and he always stood out from the rest of the team. I thought he was a sprinter at first due to how built he was, but then we went to run 3 miles and he stayed well ahead of me the entire time. In a group of rather skinny guys, he was the outlier simply because he wanted to be.

This drive was why I ended up viewing him as a role model, because no matter how hard I worked, he worked harder. He made excuses seem worthless, and that’s stuck with me even after he graduated and we no longer ran together. I wish I had told him that directly, told him exactly how much of an inspiration he ended up being. Sadly though, I can’t.

I think Paul will be remembered for a lot of things. Whether it be his humor, ability, work ethic, or anything else on a long list of positives, each will be remembered fondly by those who knew him. And, each will be missed dearly by them as well.

Rest In Peace Paul Donahue.

Paul was the best teammate anyone could ask for- he made the best out of every tough race or workout, constantly made everyone laugh, and took the time to cheer for every single person on the team, no matter how well he knew them. This past year he came back to watch our championship meet and, though we never talked much, he took the time to ask me all about my plans for running and college and how school was going. That was the kind of friendly, caring, and thoughtful person Paul always showed himself to be. His memory, humor, and generosity lives with all the people who cared about him.

Rest In Peace

Where do I even begin. My freshman year Paul always was the most supportive even though my times weren’t the best and I still was jogging two laps and walking a lap. I cannot remember not seeing a smile on his face. He was a mentor and has ten times the muscle. He always would give me rides and he was the first new friend I made in High School. Even when I ran a not so good Sectionals in the spring last season he still gave the most support. So I just want to say thank you Paul for never having lost hope in me and always being there. Miss you.

Paul had always been a role model for myself and those that were blessed with his presence. He was absolutely determined to improve in whatever he put his mind to. I remember being hyper-competitive with Paul when I was younger because he could always beat me in the shorter distance events. In my eyes, Paul was the essence of strength. And although I wanted to be as strong as him, I did not have the discipline he had at such a young age.

Paul was one of the first people I met when I moved into the school district during the beginning of 8th grade. He was an individual that cared very deeply for others and would quite literally put a smile on the face of everyone in a room. I am honored that I was able to stand by him as a friend and as a teammate for the years that I knew him.

Thank you for pushing me forward all of these years Paul. Rest in peace brother.

Words cannot describe the loss Paul has left to our band of brothers. As I write this now however, after having had some time to digest the shock of it all… I want remind everyone of the positivity and light that Paul brought to every facet of life. Paul and I joined the cross country team our sophomore years. Prior to that, we both played freshmen soccer together, a memory that the two of us would constantly smile and joke about. The unique aspect of joining cross country that year was in the fact that Paul and I were the new guys. The team had already gelled and became quite close, yet, it is a testament to Paul and of our band of brothers that we were able to easily become apart of a group that, in my eyes, goes beyond just friends. We are a family. From then on, it was all about making incredible memories throughout our final years in high school, and taking on new experiences as we geared towards college.

Part of me desires to have that one incredible memory or story that perfectly exemplifies Paul’s legacy. Yet, in a bizarre way I am more or less given so many smaller moments that culminate to an overall feeling of gratitude for being around a man who understood his morals and was so wise beyond his years. I feel in a way that is who Paul was. Paul never needed to be the center of attention. He was stoic and selfless in a way that I always took infinite admiration towards.

I’d like to wrap this up with the conversation I last had with Paul. It was at a hangout with the guys, much like any other that came before, but that night Paul and I were able to talk a lot about the music we had been listening to lately. We talked about the Beatles and Kendrick Lamar. I told him that “Yesterday” was my favorite song and he said he agreed. Till the day we meet again Paul, just know every time I play that song I will remember you and all our memories. Love you man.

God be with the family of this young man. So sorry for your loss and so tragic.  Praying for peace and healing

I met Paul this last summer working at Manco's Pizza. He was so sweat and very easy to get along with. We had built up a habit of giving each other very basic and obvious weather reports. It would be 97 degrees outside, humid and sunny and I would let him know that it's a tad warm out. Those weather reports made us both laugh every time and became a daily occurrence. He was the kind of guy who could bring a smile to anyone's face. Deepest condolences from all of us at Manco's, you were a great friend and will be dearly missed. 

I was lucky enough to be Paul’s teammate for two years. There’s one race that I’ll never forget— cross country county championships my sophomore year. I went out way too fast, and by the time I reached the half-mile mark, I was exhausted and in pain. However, then Paul came up and ran by my side and pushed me through it. If it weren’t for Paul, I probably would’ve dropped out of that race. But then again, if it weren’t for Paul, I probably wouldn’t even be running today.

He had a way of seeing the best in everyone. He always believed in me even though I didn’t really believe in myself. I remember watching him run the 400m my freshman year (he was two years older than me) and thinking “I wish I could run like that.” He was also the only person I’ve ever met that knew more about Big Brother than me.

I’m gonna miss you Paul. Thank you for always pushing me and everyone else to do their best. Until we meet again.

No words can ever express or convey the sorrow and profound sadness we feel for the loss of Paul Michael. We are heartbroken for the entire Donahue Family and friends of Paul Michael.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
David and Kellie Carissimi

Hey Paul. I am so sorry for your loss. I'm not very good at this but give my regards to your wife and family. Once again I am sorry! Stay strong!

“How They Remember You” is a song recorded by Country Artists, Rascal Flats. If you listen to the Lyrics of this song, you may think they recorded the song about Paul. Some of the lyrics from the song resonate with me when I think about Paul. Contrary to what the song suggests, Paul did not have to spray his name on a water tower, carve it in an old Oak Tree, or even sign a bunch of high school yearbooks for us to remember him. The line in the chorus, “it ain’t if, it’s how they remember you,” is what resonates with me most. Although we may have never realized it before, Paul has left each of us with our own unique and special memories of him! Personally, as one of his high school coaches, I remember Paul as a polite, kind, and caring individual, who was a great teammate with an outstanding work ethic, and someone who always exemplified great character and moral values! Because of these characteristics, I think the highest compliment I could pay to Paul is that he made our team better before he ever ran his first step in practice! My final thought about Paul is this; just as the stone cutter deeply chisels a name into a piece of granite so that it will not erode, Paul has seared his presence in our minds, and etched his name so deeply in our hearts, that he will remain with us through eternity. Remember, it ain’t a question of if we will, it’s how we remember him! Paul has left an indelible legacy that would make anyone proud, and his legacy is filled with happy memories for all of us!

RIP

Coach Hengel

As a delivery driver for Mancos Pizza I was so impressed with Paul . A kid who was so good at his craft . I'd often pick his brain about running, nutrition, yada yada as I was always asking questions and his kindness and manner was so nice and easy to be around. He worked so hard always on time, do the extra stuff to contribute I can only imagine him in his other life endeavours like running and helping others how much he offered. We're heartbroken as a pizza family to lose such a good man. I will always remember seeing Paul and his Mom walking this summer together on his day off and I was like Wow that's a great young man . Enjoying a summer walk with Mom . I know you will all be together again and I will pray Paul sends you all signs as he is Heaven now. A place we all strive to go. You were a great friend for our short time spent together felt like I knew you longer Paul. Your smile and kindness and humbleness are things I will also remember . A great young man!!! Same sentiment of all the Manco workers too .

"Run for others not yourself." That alone shows the kind of thoughtful and selfless soul that Paulie was. Someone who loved and cared unconditionally for not only his family, but others as well. I will always remember Paulie as the kid on the side lines of our soccer games, coming to cheer on his big sis.
Paulie will continue to live on in our hearts, through the countless memories made and the impact he had on others. My heart goes out to the entire family as they grieve this unfathomable loss.

I only met Paulie a few times when his mom would bring him into the office with her. But the few times that I did meet him when he was young, I was very impressed with him. Always polite, always had a smile on his face, and he would sometimes shake my hand to say hello. The rest that I know of him up to the time he was in college was thru his dad. His dad would always talk about him in glowing and very proud terms. Through his dad’s description and stories about him I envisioned a very intelligent, loving, caring, humble and kind young man who would do anything for his family and friends. No, I did not know him well, but I do nether the less feel a deep sense of loss and sorrow that he no longer shares this world with us and that we all miss him very dearly. My deepest sympathies go out to his family and all his friends who knew him well. I think and believe that Heaven had a greater need for him and that is why he is there now. And for that, Heaven is a better place.

Paulie was a remarkable kid who loved his family deeply and was loved by all—I’ll never forget the little boy with the goofy smile at our soccer games growing up. My heart is with my dear friend Bri, Mr. & Mrs. Donahue, Kaitlyn, and the entire family now and always as you grieve this unimaginable loss. We love you and we’re all here for you.