Paul Charles Abbinante

Paul Charles Abbinante, 88, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2023.  
He is preceded in death by his father Christopher, mother Pearl (nee Hartzel) and brother Christopher. Paul is survived by Barbara (nee Colling), his beloved wife of 68 years; 4 children: James (Susan), Jenny (Mike), Julie (David) and Joan (Carl); 8 grandchildren: Jamie, Jill, Jodie, Dan, Collin, Becca, Elena and Blake; and 7 great-grandchildren.  
Paul graduated from Purcell HS in 1952 and received his Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1957.  He went on to earn his Ohio Professional Engineer (PE) license.  While at UC, he served as President of the Neuman Society and founded the Melodairs Dance Band, which played various nightclubs in Southeastern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.  Prior to graduation from UC, Paul married Barbara and they moved to Madisonville.
Shortly after the birth of their son James, Paul and Barbara moved the family to Withamsville and were very active in St. Thomas More parish life.  Paul founded and directed the parish choir and, together with Barbara, wrote, organized, directed and performed in numerous parish variety shows.  Paul also performed in the Cincinnati Music Theater’s (CMT) inaugural production of “The Most Happy Fella” followed by “Brigadoon”, “The King and I”, and “Man of La Mancha”.  Paul and family then moved to Wyoming, OH and joined St. Bartholomew Parish where he founded and directed the choir until his departure in 1975.  He joined Musica Sacra chorus, dedicated to the performance of sacred master choral works with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
In 1975, Paul accepted a VP and corporate officer position at Aero Systems Engineering (ASE) and moved the family to Minnesota.  He directed the manufacturing and deployment of aircraft engine test equipment, constructing test facilities worldwide for ten years.  While in Minnesota, he formed a vocal ensemble, consisting of his wife and three daughters, which sang for liturgies at their parish of St. Patrick’s of Edina.
Paul left ASE and returned to GE in Cincinnati, as an executive at the Evendale plant.  Together with Barbara and Joan, he moved to Sycamore Township, where they joined the Community of Good Shepherd (CGS) Parish. At CGS, Paul assumed the role of interim Choir Director for two years, and continued with Barbara to be a member of the choir until 2020. Paul rose through the executive ranks at GE until his retirement in December 1999, at which point he joined the Belcan Engineering Group.  In 2002, Paul and Barbara moved to the Villas of Hunter’s Green subdivision where he became the first elected President of the governing Association. Paul retired from Belcan in December 2020 after 19 years.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CGS Music Ministry.  Visitation will be held Saturday, March 11 at 11AM, followed by a funeral Mass at Noon, at The Community of the Good Shepherd (8815 E Kemper Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249).