On Monday, Paul J. Cienki – husband, father, brother, and friend – passed away after a valiant battle with stage 4 lung cancer that defied every statistical odd. He was 60 years old. Paul will be forever remembered by his steadfast wife, Suzanne; his five adoring children Caitlin, Deirdre, TJ, Bridget, and Peter Cienki; his mother Margaret Cienki; his brothers Michael and Frederick Cienki; and countless nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Freddie Cienki.

Paul was a Renaissance man who held many diverse interests. He was in equal parts an avid cyclist, skier, certified tennis umpire, and Mensa member. A staunch believer in the value of education, Paul graduated from Regis High School in Manhattan and would go on to receive a B.A. in economics from Canisius College, an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.S. in Accounting from the University of Rhode Island. He completed additional studies at St. John’s University School of Law and the University of Kentucky doctoral program in economics. Paul worked for many years for the Air Force and in the private sector at companies such as Aerospace Industries Association, General Dynamics, Smiths Aerospace, and Textron, Inc. At the time of his diagnosis, he worked as the Vice President of Government Accounting and Compliance at Honeywell International.

Paul also served as vice chair on the National Board of Directors of the Leukemia Society of America and on the Board of Regents at Canisius College. He served as chair of the Financial Executive International (FEI) and was a member of the Newport Ski Club and the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen. Paul was a lifetime member of the Naval Academy Athletic Association and a devout Catholic who abided by the Jesuit ideal of “a man for others.” Accordingly, he took pride in sharing his Catholic faith with others and racked up countless volunteer hours promoting the benefits of Catholic education and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Ad Majoreum Dei Glorium.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, July 21, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, East Greenwich. Calling hours are Friday, July 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made out to Regis High School to fund education or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support cancer research and patient care.

Click here for the obituary guest book on the Hill Funeral Home website.