BLAIRSTOWN, N.J. — A Warren County, New Jersey township is mourning the loss of two prominent members of the community.
Paul Avery and his wife Sheila were killed in a house fire Tuesday morning. Just before 1 a.m., New Jersey State Police got the call to respond to the Avery’s home on Mohican Road. When they arrived, the building was engulfed in flames. Sadly, neither Paul nor Sheila could be saved.
“I got a call saying what happened, and I just couldn’t believe it,” said Joe Phalon.
Phalon works for the paper Paul Avery founded, the Ridge View Echo. He said, while Avery might be gone, his memory and accomplishments will live on.
“I always like to call Paul the most interesting man in the world, because he was when you consider everything he’s done in his life. Acting, skydiving, Vietnam veteran, started a newspaper,” said Phalon.
Paul Avery’s acting career began in the 1970’s. He was featured in shows like “All my Children” in the ’80s and the movie “Superman” in 1978. More recently, he served on the Blairstown Township Committee, he was the Executive Editor of the Ridge View Echo, and he was a member of the local Rotary Club. But he also found time, once a weekend, to go flying.
“It’s going to take a while to get used to not having him here, because it was almost like okay, it’s the weekend, we expect to see Paul,” said Kevin Martin.
Martin owns and operates Jersey Ridge Soaring, a glider business at the Blairstown Airport. He said gliding was Paul Avery’s favorite hobby.
“He was a powered pilot previously, so he held some ratings, and so when he came to gliders it was, he was pretty much a natural pilot,” said Martin.
A pilot, a writer, a politician, a soldier, an actor, a father, and a husband. A full life that will be remembered in the Blairstown community.
“His death is going to leave a real void in this community. Not just Blairstown, but the towns around as well,” said Phalon. “I think we’ll really miss him, and I think it’s going to become more apparent over time.”
There’s been an outpouring of grief on social media, with many people thinking of Sheila as well. Comments called her a mentor and a friend. Their daughter, Kyle Avery, posted saying she is now working on funeral arrangements, and that she loved them so much.
