Paul Tilot
Sometimes a single event alters our lives forever, and Paul is living proof of resiliency and determination in spite of such things.  The date of February 20, 2000 will forever live in his mind because that is the day that he suffered a stroke and it certainly has changed how he and those close to him will deal with the future.  It was quite a severe stroke and Paul's wife, Kathy, was told he probably wouldn't survive.  "But," Paul relates with justified pride, "I proved them all wrong."  Since the time of the stroke it has been a long road to adjustment to the complications.  It left him paralyzed on his right side and confined to a wheelchair, and, like many assaults to the left side of the brain, it complicated his speech.  He was unable to speak for quite some time, though through time and therapy he has recovered a good deal of that capacity.

Prior to that fateful day in 2000, Paul was an electrician who was a master in the trade and had a contractor license.  He worked for his dad for twenty years, and although he is officially retired now, he still tinkers around a bit for himself as far as he is able as a part of his continuing recovery.  It was through the suggestion of Gerry Delforge, a brother Knight from another Council and a cousin of his wife, that he considered becoming a part of the Knights of Columbus.  Before that he knew very little about the Knights but apparently Gerry's recruiting abilities at least gave Paul a desire to check things out.  Both of them were also members of the Eagles, and en route to conventions they had plenty of time to talk about the Knights and Gerry managed to win Paul over.  That was five or six years ago, and since then Paul has also advanced through the Fourth Degree and is a member of our local Marquette Assembly 1197.  Obviously the fact that Paul is disabled means that he cannot take part in many activities of the Council or the Assembly.

These days Paul spends a great deal of his time Monday through Friday at Curative Workshop in the "Older Americans Program."  His days are filled with volunteer work, everything from playing cards to woodworking to cooking to a newer hobby--ceramics.  Many people involved in the program cannot be by themselves and Paul certainly enjoys the time he spends with them.  Though he seems to have completed any therapy that would bring him any great benefit, he is planning to begin some pool therapy soon, after an infection in his leg clears up and he can begin a program.

Paul is a Green Bay native who is one of a set of triplets--two identical twin boys and a girl.  He and Kathy recently celebrated their Thirtieth wedding anniversary and they have four daughters, three of whom live in the area, and two grandchildren.  They recently moved into a new home that Paul designed to be completely accessible.  He spends most of his weekdays at Curative Workshop, but he still has his evenings and weekends.  In this free time he enjoys being on the computer and cooking.  His culinary specialties seem to be booyah and beef jerky.  He is definitely proud of all that the Knights have done for him and is especially grateful for a recent check from the State Charity Fund that will help in their goal of purchasing an accessible van.  We too are proud to have them as a part of the Council family and are grateful for all that they continue to teach us about rising above adversity.

 November 2001