Captain Dale L. Paquette, USNR

Captain Dale L. Paquette, USNR (Ret.), of Portsmouth, RI, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2025 at the age of 79. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, on October 14, 1945, to Leonard O. Paquette and Bertha M. Paquette (née Senay), Dale led a life defined by service, curiosity, creativity, and deep devotion to his family.

A career naval officer, Dale began his service in 1968 aboard the USS Fiske and the newly commissioned USS Lang, retiring 27 years later in a ceremony aboard the USS Constitution with the rank of Captain. During the Vietnam War, he taught at the Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport as an anti-submarine warfare tactics instructor and tactical trainer operations officer-a post memorable not only for his excellence, but for the time he gave Dwight D. Eisenhower's grandson a failing grade, a decision he upheld until receiving a diplomatically persuasive phone call from a government official.

Among his many career achievements, Dale was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and was an expert sharpshooter. In civilian life, he served as Senior Engineer and Program Manager in the Test and Evaluation Department at NUSC/NUWC, where his outstanding leadership earned him the Meritorious Service Award-presented by RI Senator Jack Reed-and the Tech Management Award. He served on a number of Navy-wide tri-service committees that helped shape the Department of Defense's test and evaluation infrastructure, and was a longtime liaison to the French Defense Department.

Dale was a man of many talents and passions. A lifelong boater-from his first hand-built rowboat to captaining his beloved 34-foot trawler, Georgia-he also served as Commander of the Newport Power Squadron and was a proud member of the East Coast Camano Association. Ironically, despite spending so much time on the water, he hated seafood.

He was a skilled carpenter and craftsman who built furniture, solved problems with ingenuity, and once constructed a grandfather clock that still keeps perfect time in the family home. He was a ham radio operator, an expert in Morse Code, a talented amateur filmmaker and photographer, a self-taught diesel mechanic, and a fluent French speaker. His love of nature and adventure led him to travel the world with his wife, visit numerous National Parks, and raft the Colorado River many times with his children and friends.

Dale was known for his humor and good-natured mischief, a prankster who scared the startle reflex out of his older kids and turned his youngest into a certified scaredy-cat. He enjoyed a good 7&7, the occasional cheap beer, and later in life developed a refined taste for boxed Franzia wine. He never stopped loving his dog, Georgia.

Dale was a deeply kindhearted and considerate man of integrity. He was respectful, helpful, and always a steadfast friend. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, and mentor-and above all, he was our hero.

He is survived by Donna, the center of his cosmos for more than 57 years; his children, Todd (wife Lisa), Alayna (husband Jay), and Lauren; his brother Gary (wife Susan); his grandchildren, Sam, Lily, Charlie, Hazel, and June; and his closest cousin, Mary Lou. He was predeceased by his brother Wayne.

Dale, we wish you fair winds and following seas.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 9:00 AM in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will follow in Newport Memorial Park, Middletown.

Donations in his memory may be made to the National Parks Conservation Association, https://www.npca.org/, and the Alzheimer's Association, RI Chapter, https://www.alz.org/ri