Alexander C. Paton

Alexander “Sandy” C. Paton, 88, of Bedford, MA died on April 8, 2023 in Nashua, NH surrounded by family and close friends.

Alex was born in Glasgow, Scotland on January 23, 1935 and was the son of James and Jean (nee Bowman) Paton. He was raised in Shawlands with his three brothers, James, Iain, and Alistair and attended University of Glasgow where he earned a PhD in Organic Chemistry.  

Alex moved to the U.S. in 1959 after having been recruited straight out of university to work for Dow Chemical, and later enjoyed a 40-year career with W.R. Grace (formerly Dewey and Almy) in both Cambridge and Lexington, Mass. He initially planned to stay in the states for a short while and return to Scotland but, as life happens, he soon fell in love, was married, and had two daughters. The families loved their many trips abroad to visit with each other.   

Alex was an avid golfer and in his youth would regularly play 18 rounds before school. He excelled at the game and became a “scratch” player. In the U.S. he played badminton at the Maugus Club in Wellesley, Mass. with fellow expats and work colleagues. He swam and played tennis at the Heritage Pool and Racquet Club in Concord, Mass. and loved tobogganing, and skiing throughout New England in the winter. Alex was a skilled piano player and inspired his daughters to excel as well. 

Alex also loved bird-watching and being in nature. He enjoyed taking long walks and swims at Walden Pond in Concord, Mass, and visiting the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Every summer he would take trips to the family cabin on Lake Sabattus, in Greene, Maine where he enjoyed fishing, swimming and boating on the lake. Another favorite vacation spot was Rockport, Mass. where he could reconnect with his Scottish roots by walking along the beach, swimming in the ocean, and scrambling across the granite rocks at Halibut Point State Park.

Alex was a wonderful and loving father, always lighthearted and full of fun. He was a kind and thoughtful person with a quick wit and a delightfully dry sense of humor. He never failed to make a positive and lasting impression on the people he met. Alex leaves behind an enormous hole in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. Family members include daughter Heather B. LaBrecque of Westford, Mass. and her partner Peter Rakauskas, daughter Lesley Paton and her husband Jason Bough of Auckland, New Zealand, granddaughter Amy Clark and her partner Adam Fisk of Somerville, Mass., granddaughters Michelle and Melissa LaBrecque of Ayer, Mass., his beloved brother Alistair Paton of Glasgow, Scotland, as well as many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews in Scotland and England.

Alex’s ashes will be spread amongst his most favorite places in Scotland and in the U.S.

Those wishing to make a contribution in Alex’s memory may consider a donation to The Walden Woods Project, https://walden.networkforgood.com/projects/42737-friends-of-walden-pond.