Paul Richard D'Andries

Paul Richard D’Andries, 78, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2025. 

Paul was predeceased by his parents, Paul A. and Mary (Carbonara) D’Andries, brother William D’Andries, and nephews Bill and Andrew D’Andries. Paul is survived and mourned by his wife Mary Jane D’Andries, brother Mike D’Andries (and spouse Debbie Dubois), son Paul David and granddaughter Sophia D’Andries, son Jonathan D’Andries (and spouse Beth Godbee), and many (grand-) nieces, nephews, and extended family members and friends.

Born in Pittsburgh on February 17, 1947, Paul proudly attended college at Penn State University, where he joined Navy-ROTC and then enlisted in the Navy and attended pilot training in Pensacola, Florida. There, he volunteered to be a human test subject for the space program and spent four days riding on “the vomit comet,” a Boeing 727 plane flown to induce weightlessness. He was later assigned to the Destroyer USS Fisk (DD-842) out of Newport, Rhode Island. It was during a stop in Boston, Massachusetts, that he met his wife-to-be Mary Jane Andrews at the bar that inspired the TV show “Cheers.” Paul and Mary Jane were married for 52 years and traveled widely during this time, including to Rome, Italy, and on cruises to the Caribbean and Holy Land.

Throughout his life, he held many jobs, including as an educator, lab technician, environmental engineer, benefits caseworker, and even driver for ACCESS. He ran his own “Paul and Sons” rototilling business, volunteered with the Boy Scouts, and loved to garden. After living in Massachusetts, Alabama, Georgia, and Virginia, he returned to Pennsylvania when his parents needed care. In Pittsburgh, he found friends through the VA, Penn State Club, his barbershop in Castle Shannon, veterans he met at McDonald’s every morning, Gerofit (“Geofit”), and with local neighbors and family—many of whom called and visited in the final weeks of his life.

Family and friends are welcome on Friday, August 1st, from 5-7 p.m., at Laughlin Cremation and Funeral Tributes, 1008 Castle Shannon Blvd., Castle Shannon, 15234. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 2nd, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Michael the Archangel Parish - St. Bernard Church, 311 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon, 15216.

Paul lived for thirty years with a successful kidney transplant, and the family would like to thank the anonymous kidney donor. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Kidney Foundation, Kidney.org

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