Paul Serabian

Groton — Paul J. “Boats” Serabian, 76, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Providence, R.I., on May 24, 1941, the son of Paul Serabian and Mary DeCosta Serabian Masse. He was married to Billye Harmon, on May 18, 1963, in Elizabeth City, N.C. Paul grew up in East Providence, R.I., and enlisted in the Navy in June 1958, one month after his 17th birthday. His first six years were spent as a radioman, and after being kicked out of RM ‘A” school in 1963 for the second time and reduced in rate to SR, found his calling as a boatswain’s mate. In June 1968, Boats was advanced to BM1. Boats was a destroyerman, having spent most of his career on five destroyers. He also served aboard a tender, an oiler and an aircraft carrier. Following service aboard the oiler off the coast of Vietnam in 1968 to 1969, he spent the next two years on his first shore duty assignment at Naval Radio Station (T), Cutler, Maine, where their son, Mark, was born. At the completion of his shore duty, he was transferred to Newport to his last destroyer, the USS BROWNSON (DD868). With the closing of Newport as it was known at that time, the family was relocated to Mayport, Fla. From Mayport, Boats returned to Norfolk, Va., to the USS AMERICA (CV66) for a year, attended brig warden school, and was transferred to Naval Submarine Base New London the end of 1976 for his second and final shore duty to run the brig. Due to needs of the Navy, six weeks after he reported to Groton, he was pulled from that billet and transferred to the USS WEST MILTON (ARD7) on the lower base. In June 1977, Boats was initiated into the brotherhood of chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy. He retired in June 1979 and resided in Groton until his death.

Boats was a member of Tin Can Sailors, USS Brownson Assn., VFW Post 3263, Mystic, a life associate member of SubVets Groton Base, and a 54-year member of the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 20. He served as club manager/treasurer of Club 20 for a total of six years and as a member of the Board of Governors for seven years.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Billye; and their son, Mark (Jocelyn) and granddaughters, Breanna and Cierra, of Lynnfield, Mass.

At his request, there are no calling hours or funeral service.

If desired, donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association-CT, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.

Please visit www.byles.com to share a memory or a condolence.