- Date Of Birth: November 5, 1925
- Date Of Death: March 13, 2016
- State: New Jersey
Dr. Paul Alan Prior, a resident of Saddle River, passed away on Sunday, March 13th. He was born on November 5, 1925 in St. Albans, Vermont, where he attended high school and played basketball and baseball for St. Mary’s. He enlisted in the army following graduation and served in the infantry at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was selected to attend Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Armored Corps. Lt. Prior was assigned to the South Pacific Theater as an Armored Officer. His last assignment was as a Company Commander in the World War II Occupation Army in Tokyo, Japan with the 1st Cavalry Division.
Following discharge from the Army, he attended the University of Vermont, where he played football, and received an undergraduate degree in 1948. He then entered the University of Vermont Medical School and was conferred a medical degree in 1952. During his academic years, he was an Executive Officer in a company attached to the National Guard of the 43rd Infantry Division of Vermont.
Dr. Prior then took training in the specialty of Radiology, being certified by the American College of Radiology in 1956. He was promoted to Assistant Professor of Radiology at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York and became Director of Radiology at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse from 1956 to 1965.
Dr. Prior left Syracuse in 1965 to serve as a Senior Attending Radiologist for 25 years at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey. He belonged to the American Medical Association, American College of Radiology and the C.T. and M.R.I. Societies of North America.
In addition to his professional pursuit in radiology (being a dedicated nightly reader of the latest medical journals), he was an avid reader of history, biographies, and current events, from sports to popular culture. In addition to his exemplary leadership as a physician, he was a dedicated family man.
He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Margaret, and his son, Gary. He is survived by his children, Paul Prior, Jr and wife Melinda of Ringwood, NJ, Pamela Follety and husband Philip of New Milford, NJ, Joanne Prior of Dracut, MA, David Matthew Prior of Waldwick, NJ, and Susan Wilkin and husband Brian of Wyckoff, NJ. He is also survived by his grandchildren, John and Jacqueline Follety and Rebecca and Ryan Wilkin.
