Peter Anthony Paolini, died peacefully on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at Porter Hills Health Center, in Grand Rapids MI, with his sister Francine Paolini, brother Michael Paolini, and Brother-in Law Martin Zyla at his side. He was born in Buffalo NY, on February 27, 1960, the last of the six Paolini children, and the first to go. There are not enough words to describe how much he was loved and is already missed. He was full of energy and put it to good use in his all too brief 65 years.

There was his life before the diagnosis of his benign brain tumors, and his life afterward. Beforehand, his interests were many, sports (no Paolini can resist the Buffalo Bills), movies, music, electronics, and,  mostly finding humor in every single situation that ever befell him. And he delighted himself more than anyone else with his unfiltered rat-a-tat-tat delivery. He called himself the Pete Rose of comedy. Statistically more swings than hits, but he was always swinging. He had encyclopedic knowledge of movies and music. Everything he ever heard was codified into his brain for future reference. He was still crushing at trivia in the weeks before he passed. We used to joke that, during his many surgeries, the doctors were adding data to his brain rather than removing tumors. His tumors were discovered the year he turned thirty, whereupon he had his first surgery. But the type of tumors he suffered were prone to regrowth. What followed were a number of intermittent surgeries (every six or seven years) followed by rehabilitation and reorientation to his life. Not one to wallow, throughout those years he completed a master's degree in library science, moved from Buffalo to Charleston SC to be near his sister Joanne Fronabargar, and became employed as a Media Librarian for the Charleston County Public Library, where he worked from 1997 through 2009. He taught himself to play the harmonica, and in his spare time found solace sitting in with a choice number of seasoned blues musicians of Charleston. In 2009, he finally met Dr. Takanori Fukushima who was an expert in the tumors that plagued him. That same year, he had yet another surgery with Dr. Fukushima at Duke University. He came through that one quite well and decided to move to Grand Rapids MI to be near his sister Francine. He enjoyed his time in Michigan and was able to live independently for five years, and then he transitioned to the Health Center at Porter Hills for his final years. Peter used to say, "It's not what you take of life, it's what you make of life." And he really meant that.

The Paolini family wants to thank all the caretakers at Porter Hills Health Center who looked after Peter during his time there. Everyone from the Head of Nursing to the Kitchen Staff. (Being Italian, he was a bit of a foodie). Our entire family is touched by their support and kindness.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents Alfonso Paolini and Teresa Paolini; Brother-in-law Robert Liddle; Sister-in-law Michelle Guadagno Paolini. He is survived by sisters Mary Pachla (Michael); Hope Liddle; Joanne Fronabargar (Kem); Francine Paolini (Martin Zyla) and brother Michael Paolini (Jamie), beloved nieces and nephews, and  countless friends, near and far.

A celebration of life will take place in early fall at a date yet to be determined. Details will be forthcoming. If you wish honor Peter's memory, the family suggests you donate to the Epidermoid Brain Tumor Society