Paul passed away peacefully at home in the loving presence and care of his wife of 42 years, Therese Ann (Otlo) Rubstello.

Paul was born in Seattle, Washington, the fourth child of Chet and Bernice (Starkle) Rubstello.

Of the five siblings (including Steve, Lynn, Greg and Lisa), Paul was the one who enjoyed practical jokes and recounting his harmless childhood antics. He also enjoyed celebrating and debating these memories with Steve later on in life.

As a teenager he helped in his father’s electronics repair shop (Adam’s TV) where he worked the front desk and evaluated tv tubes. He spent lots of time participating in shenanigans with his close friend, Richard Brown.

Paul graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle in 1974.

He enlisted in the United States Navy in February of 1975 and after boot camp was trained as a rescue crewman and as an acoustic antisubmarine warfare technician and was then assigned to HS-8 (Helicopter Squadron) in San Diego. He served his country for five years aboard H-3s. His service included three Western-Pacific deployments aboard the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK which took him to Hawaii, Japan, Guam, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, South Korea and the waters of Vietnam, South Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy in February of 1980, Paul met his future bride Therese in April of 1980 when he and four other shipmates served as ushers in another shipmate’s wedding in Sacramento. He and that shipmate became brothers-in-law when Paul and Therese were married on January 3, 1982 at St. Rose Catholic Church in Sacramento. Paul and Therese honeymooned in Reno during a snowstorm.

Paul was employed by the Department of Defense at McClellan Air Force Base as an aircraft flight control technician and aircraft flight control rigging technician for 17 years and after the base closure he studied Information Technology and worked for Veterans Affairs at Travis Air Force Base and Veterans Affairs at Mather Air Force Base Hospital for 18 years.

Paul retired from Mather upon learning he would be a first-time grandfather. He said no one except family would watch his grandchildren! He dedicated his first five years of retirement to excellent care of his granddaughter Tegan Hayley Howard (and granddog, Ritzy) beginning in 2018 when Tegan was four weeks old. Paul’s grandfatherly pride doubled in 2020 when grandson Miles Paul Howard was born and he didn’t hesitate to continue daycare, now for two grandchildren.

When his wife retired in 2020, Paul had Therese by his side to care for their grandchildren during the day. They made a great team and their teaching of numbers, the alphabet, manners, and all the important skills to give them a head start in school. It was important to him that their grandchildren were kind, caring and productive citizens, just as their own children became. A favorite pastime was singing the Number of the Day with the Count or Letter of the Day on Sesame Street together; usually while dancing around the living room.

Before becoming “Grampa” (or “Crappa” as Miles could manage at best), Paul had been a hardworking dad. Sometimes working two jobs to support his growing family so Therese could stay home to care for their children who were born very prematurely. That was Paul. He did what was needed, when it was needed, no matter what. His quiet strength, day after day, was steady in the lives of his family, especially his wife’s.

Paul and Therese raised two children, Chief Petty Officer Ian Michal Rubstello USN and Kelsey Marie (Rubstello) Howard, who is a section chief within the State of California, and dogs Otis and Jazzy. Paul was extremely proud of his children, especially son Ian’s Navy career, promotions and his West-Pac deployment on the carrier USS NIMITZ, and especially daughter Kelsey’s achievements graduating college, employment promotions, becoming a wonderful mother, and managing it all. He especially enjoyed time with the fur babies, (dogs) which first included Otis and then Jazzy. He enjoyed walks, playing ball and frisbee, and feeding them human food when they weren’t supposed to have it.

Paul’s enjoyment of sports and outdoor activities evolved over the years – participating in a group that visited Taiwan in his youth; playing frisbee and dirt bike riding as a sailor; Taekwondo, camping, boating and waterskiing as a newlywed; enjoying time and snow sledding at the family property in the mountains and bicycle riding, swimming and kayaking with the kids as a dad.

Annual vacations with the kids to Disneyland, camping along the Oregon coast, and to Seattle to visit family were a priority for Paul. For the family, it was always exciting to visit Grandma Bernice and Grandpa Chet’s house, going out to the Seattle Science Center, and hanging with cousins and their fun pets (especially Lucas’ ferret) together. Paul enjoyed every visit, and had such pride in watching his nieces and nephews grow up to become such impressive, successful, adventurous and wonderful adults with families of their own. He especially loved one visit when Jazzy decided to take a slice of pizza in her mouth and not let go during a visit with his niece and nephew, Emily and Lucas.

He loved walking along the Oregon coast, exploring tidepools, watching the waves and climbing rocks on the shore with Therese, the kids, and Jazzy. He always carried dog treats in his hoodie pocket for motivation when Jazzy took off to chase seagulls…that she would come back!

As empty nesters he and Therese became (mostly) self-taught “rockhounds” attending rock shows and enjoying many adventures looking for specimens in Quartzite and Tucson, Arizona; Yerington and Tonopah, Nevada which included exploring opal mines; and Madras, Oregon. Paul’s collection of rocks and gems is spectacular! As a grandfather, he also continued to perfect his Lego building skills. He loved picking out sets he knew they would love. Tegan especially enjoyed Grandpa building her Disney’s Encanto house, Casita. And fixing it when Miles demonstrated his throwing skills.

Paul’s favorite way to spend time were trips to Monterey and Pacific Grove with Therese, walking or sitting on a favorite bench to watch the ocean waves break over the rocks. And really, enjoying time together as a couple.

Favorite meals were shared seated by the window at Domenico’s overlooking the harbor most days (sometimes twice a day!) of every trip. The family time together in Monterey this past September is a treasured memory.

Throughout Paul’s two and a half year illness and treatment for melanoma, he exhibited positivity, determination, hope, strength and courage. He sure didn’t let it slow him down!

His loving presence, good example and positive influence will live on in his children and grandchildren. He will be forever loved and missed beyond measure by his wife, children, grandchildren, family and friends.

Paul was predeceased by his nephew Jacob Paul, grandparents, parents, infant daughter Beth Megan, infant sons Philip Scott and Thaddeus Jacob and furry kiddos Otis and Jazzy.

In addition to his wife Therese, son Ian, daughter Kelsey, five-year-old granddaughter Tegan and three-year-old grandson Miles, Paul is survived by son-in-law Ryan Howard, Aunt Faye, brothers Steve and Greg, sisters Lynn and Lisa, sister-in-law Judy, nephews Scott, Lucas and Tristan, nieces Traci and Emily, father-in-law Frank, mother-in-law Nancy, bother-in-law Paul, sister-in-law Roxanne, chosen son Jerry and daughter-in-law Rebecca, beloved friends Bill, Mike, Steve, Joy, Wanda, Jim, Michael, Carrie, Dana, Lily and Stan, and granddogs Zoey and Ritzy.

We recall his words to us, “It’s ok, everything will be all right. Go out and live the rest of your life and be happy.”

Special thanks and appreciation to Joanne (Paul’s main RN), Carly, and all other medical professionals and support staff at South Sacramento Kaiser Hospice for your care for Paul, and to family and friends. All the calls and visits were a great comfort and kept him smiling. 

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/paul-rubstello/obituary/

Copy