Paul Joseph Niland, was born in Boston, MA on January 22, 1936, and unexpectedly passed away on April 5, 2024, at the age of 88.

In 1954, he joined the U.S. Army and spent most of his military service in Germany, which afforded him the opportunity to see much of Europe.  When he returned home, he met his future wife, Mary Margaret “Peg” Parlon. They married soon after and raised a beautiful family in Hingham, MA.  A friend in Hingham taught Paul to sail and he loved it. He enjoyed spending weekends on his “Hustler” class sailboat, which he taught his children to sail. He spent countless hours on Nantasket Beach where he raced his kids on belly boards. Winter weekends were spent at Cushing Pond for ice hockey games with his children.  He loved to camp in Baxter State Park in Maine where he and his boys hiked and road motorcycles. Paul was a member of the Local 103 I.B.E.W. in Boston for 65 years. He was a successful electrical contractor, and owned the Emerson Electric Company, in South Boston, where he grew the business, and serviced most of the universities and hospitals in the Boston area. Paul and Peg loved to travel. They went to Hawaii, Acapulco, Portugal, Bali, and Australia. They also loved entertaining their many friends and relatives in Hingham and Florida. When they moved to Florida permanently in 1992, they bought another sailboat, a 38-foot Bristol, that they named “Boston Belle”, which they enjoyed sailing along the Florida coast. Paul’s grandchildren called him Paco, and for many years, “Camp Paco” was the highlight of summers for their grandchildren. They would gather in Florida for days of memory making, swimming in the pool, rowing on the canal, sailing the harbor in “Little Scamps” and jet skiing. Paul was a proud member of the American Legion Post 110, and the E.L.K.S. in Port Charlotte, Florida for 30 years.

Paul leaves his wife of 65 years, Mary Margaret “Peg” Parlon Niland, of Port Charlotte, Florida, a daughter Joan Crowley and her husband Rich of Whitehall, PA, a daughter Anneliese Niland Eikhoff and her husband Carl of Atlanta, GA, a son, Christopher Niland of Hull, MA, a son Greg Niland and his wife Angela of Macungie, PA.  Paul was preceded in death by his son, Paul Niland, of Queensland, Australia, who left his wife Debbie and their two children, Michael and Bella, who despite being so far away, loved their Paco. Paul was loved by his all of grandchildren, Stephen, Patrick, Michael, Drew, Sean, Mary, Christopher, and Ashley.

Interment will be at the Sarasota National Cemetery on May 24 at 1:30 where Paul will be buried with military honors.

The family asks that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s hospital in lieu of flowers.Niland,

 Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory Port Charlotte Chapel.