Paul Victor Dobrow

Paul Victor Dobrow passed away on Friday, November 9. He had been an engineer with the Department of the Army, and was one of the early members of the department's Value Engineering Group. But Paul's work life began many years before that. When he was a young boy he had many odd jobs. He blew taps and reveille at a local boy scout camp (even though he didn't know how to play a bugle!), made toast at a local bakery, and worked as a delivery boy for a dental lab. Like his father, he had a mechanical aptitude and a love of cars. When he was a teenager, Paul was thrilled to win his first car at a police auction for $16 (a Model A Ford), despite the fact that he and a friend had to push it home! (He eventually got it running.) Also like his father, Paul had an impish sense of humor. Once when he noticed a neighbor planting a brand new tomato plant seedling, he gave her some of his "secret fertilizer" (which was really just sugar water) and suggested she add a little of it to the soil, which she did. Then he went out and bought the most beautiful, ripe tomato he could find. After the neighbor went to bed, Paul snuck into the yard and tied the tomato to the seedling with clear fishing line. One can just imagine the grin on his face when he heard the neighbor's joyous shriek the next morning upon seeing her "miraculous" tomato plant. Born in Torrington, CT, Paul attended college at the Detroit Institute of Technology, and at Alliance College in Erie, PA, where he met his sweetheart, Theresa Slomski. They married in 1950 and moved to a Washington, DC suburb in Maryland, where he designed the house in which he would raise his family, directly across the street from his parish church. In DC, he began work for the Department of Defense as a Value Engineer. He traveled the world teaching other engineers in many countries like Germany, Japan, Italy, and Saudi Arabia, to name a few. He also designed and supervised wire-guided torpedoes for submarines. One of his later thrills was getting to ride aboard the USS Nautilus submarine. As if he weren't busy enough, it was during this time that Paul earned a law degree from La Salle College at Georgetown University. He was also active in the Toastmasters and the Knights of Columbus (eventually becoming a Grand Knight). Despite these accomplishments, a major source of pride and enjoyment for Paul was one of his avocations -- a weekly one-hour radio show that played Polish music. It was called "Paul's Polka Party," and he featured "happy music for happy people." His show ran for 13 years and filled a void in the Baltimore-Washington area that has yet to be refilled. Paul had an incredible work ethic, a wonderful curiosity, and a desire to stay busy. Retirement didn't change that one bit. After Paul retired, he consulted with Sverdrup Corporation and was instrumental in the design of the new Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Paul's first wife predeceased him in 1994, shortly after he retired. After a period of mourning, he moved to Plantation, FL. Never one to remain idle, Paul occupied himself with various interests. He became a volunteer with the Broward County Sheriff's Department, a driver for Enterprise Rent-a-Car, an annulment counselor for St. Gregory's parish, and a member of the Elks Club. During this time, Paul met a lovely redhead named Emily and instantly fell in love again. The two took many cross-country car trips, and Paul was especially impressed with Emily's ability to fold a map. The couple enjoyed dancing and travel and, in April 2000, married. They spent over 14 years dancing together before, sadly, Emily passed on.Paul Victor Dobrow was a wonderful, Loving Father, Grand-father and Great Grand-Father. He is survived by his five beloved children Paul Dobrow and wife Karen, William Dobrow, Laurie Dobrow, Mary Dobrow and Marcy Dobrow-Rose and Husband Timothy, Grandchildren Shannon Field and Husband Roberto, Paul Vincent Dobrow and wife Kristin, Joshua Rose and wife Alice and Chelsea Rose-Pulitzer and husband Jesse, Great Grand-Children Abigail Mackenzie, Griffin Geoffrey, Brody Arturo and Adley Grace. Despite Paul's losses, he always maintained an amazing sense of humor and an old-world charm. He was always ready to see the good in people and never passed up the chance to give someone a compliment. We will remember him for all of these things. And for that winning smile. And (of course) those beautiful blue eyes.Visitation, Thursday, November 15, 2018, T. M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home 7001 NW 4th St Plantation, Florida 33317,  In 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial,  Friday, November 16, 2018, 10:30 AM  Saint Gregory The Great Catholic Church  200 N. University Drive Plantation, FL 33324Cremation arrangements by T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home  954-587-6888