July 16, 1954 – February 8, 2026
Paul John Sylvester, a retired electrical engineer, train and trolley buff, and musician, died Sunday, Feb. 8, in hospital, two-and-a-half months after being diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer. He was 71.
Paul began his professional career as an electrical engineer with the Polaroid Corp. One of a group of then-recent college graduates, he designed circuits and hardware for several Polaroid cameras. He holds at least one patent for his work there.
A Reading resident for 45 years, he also worked for different companies on medical ultrasound devices, vehicle safety technology, and government security projects.
He became a train and trolley enthusiast much earlier, working summers during college with his father, the late Ernest Sylvester, at the locomotive maintenance shop for commuter rail engines at Harmon, NY.
He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in a combined bachelor’s and master’s engineering and computer science degree program.
After college, in 1978, he married his classmate from Ossining (NY) High School, Nadine Wandzilak. They have a son, Mark Sylvester, of Reading.
In the early 2000s, Paul and Mark both began volunteering at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunk, ME. Mark continues to volunteer there. And for the last 20-plus years, Paul and Mark have been attending an end-of-summer farming event in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa to help repair and run trolleys that move fair-goers around the fair campground.
Musically, for a number of years before he became ill, Paul played saxophone with the North Reading Community Band. More than 30 years ago, he played keyboards in several wedding bands, including “Diversion,” and informally with friends.
Since he retired several years ago, Paul had worked part-time at Smolak Farm in N. Andover as a tractor driver for hayrides, a docent, and a builder and repairman.
He is survived by his sister, Elaine Sylvester, of Peekskill, NY, in addition to his wife and son.
A memorial and celebration of life service will be held for Paul in the spring. The Douglass Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home in Reading is handling the arrangements. Details will be provided closer to the service date.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168, by phone to 1-800-525-4669, or at dana-farber.org/give in Paul’s name.
