From the Danbury NewsTimes:

Paul Averill Hotchkiss

Paul Averill Hotchkiss 63, of Gay Street died at his home on May 18th following a brief illness. He was the husband of Shelley Hotchkiss, and lived in Sharon, Conn. for the last ten years.

Son of Shirley D. Hotchkiss and the late Rollin D. Hotchkiss, he was born in NYC, and grew up in Douglaston, NY. He attended Marietta College and graduated from Hofstra University. He lived in Ridgefield, for 18 years before moving from NY to Bethlehem, Conn., and finally Sharon, Connecticut.

He worked in sales for Continental Oil, Crawford Russell, Boehringer Ingelheim, and most recently at the Lakeville Journal Newspaper. His true profession and love was music. An accomplished guitarist, he began writing songs in his teen years and performed in a band, which got recorded by Shelly Records-producing their first hit, "Lovey Dovey".

He started his own recording studio and record label and music publishing company; Red Kastle Records and Blue Hill Music. He was "Hutch" of Malone and Hutch, performing country and Irish music with partner Gerry Malone for the last 30 years throughout greater New England, NY, and Ocean City, Maryland.

During his music career his songs were recorded by numerous Nashville artists, as well as in Canada and Europe. He received two Gold Records, and numerous top 100 hits in the US, Canada, and Europe. He was a member of BMI, and the CT Songwriters Association.

He also had a passion for railroad history, antiques, birds, and baseball. He and his wife Shelley were antique collectors and dealers. Additionally, he coached Little League baseball, played and competed in badminton and tennis.

He is survived by: his wife, Shelley Hotchkiss of Sharon; his mother, Shirley D. Hotchkiss and his sister, Cindy Lydgate, both of Camden, Maine; his three children: Margit Hotchkiss of Dalton, Mass.; David Paul Hotchkiss and wife Dorothy, and Richard M Hotchkiss of Denver, Colo.; his stepmother, Magda G. Hotchkiss, of Lenox, Mass.; his stepdaughter, Jessie Lane of Sharon; his grandchildren: Lincoln Hotchkiss and Alex Chapman of Denver; Meagan, Marissa, and Aubrey Milligan of Dalton, Mass.; and several cousins, aunts and uncles.

He was predeceased by his father, Dr. Rollin D. Hotchkiss, formerly of Lenox, Mass., and his former wife, Anita Juve Hotchkiss.

Contributions may be made to the Audubon Society, Sharon, CT-Land Trust, World Wildlife Federation and the American Cancer Association.

Memorial Services will be held Sunday, May 22, at 2 p.m. at the Sharon Congregational Church, on the Green in Sharon, with a reception to follow.

The Kenny Funeral Home, 41 Main Street, Sharon has care of arrangements.