Paul Bettencourt

TO VIEW SERVICES THURSDAY, APRIL 15 at 11 AM VIA LIVESTREAM CLICK HERE Pawtucket – Paul “The Baitman” Bettencourt, 80, passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on Saturday, April 10, 2021. He was the beloved husband of Barbara R. (Stuart) Bettencourt for forty-three years. Born in Providence, Paul was one of twenty-one children of the late John and Emelia (Pacheco) Bettencourt. He resided the majority of his adult life in Pawtucket. Paul was a United States Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam Era and went on to a lifelong career in the commercial fishing industry, where he gained the nickname and call sign, “The Baitman”. Paul was totally devoted to God, his family, and his community. He served on the Pawtucket School Committee and was omnipresent at countless community events. Paul loved to pass on his knowledge of responsible fishing to his family, friends, and local youth. He had a deep respect for all that God created and strived to preserve the environment, especially the Narragansett Bay and its many tributaries. Paul devoted countless hours to this cause through educating everyone he could from teaching them to fish to creating programs for children in the local schools, working with Save the Bay RI to accepting the position of Harbor Master on the Blackstone River. Amongst many other memorable achievements, he and his late brother, Joe, spearheaded the preservation of the Herring in the Ten Mile River, and now there is a fish ladder named for him at Omega Pond. Aside from all the work that Paul put into environmental preservation and education, he devoted himself to area youth, through his work with the Pawtucket School System. Paul was more than a volunteer. He always went out of his way to be there for the children of our community and became a “Second Dad” to so many. Paul’s legacy will live on and he will be lovingly remembered by all whose lives he has touched over the past eighty years. Besides his loving wife, he leaves three daughters, Desiree Anderson and her fiancé, Sam Myers in Tennessee, Amanda Doucette and her husband, Gregg, of North Providence and Paula Bettencourt and her wife, Amanda I. Bettencourt of Stoughton, MA; seven grandchildren, Keyarra, Abigayle, Melina, Jocelyn, David, Bryan and Alex; two great-grandsons, David, and Antonio; a sister, Matilda Bettencourt of East Providence and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, extended family and dear friends. Services will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket. (Paul’s Services will also be available via livestream at TRIPPFUNERALHOME.com for those concerned with safety during Covid 19. Services may be viewed from the convenience of your own home by clicking the link located on Paul’s online obituary.) Public VISITATION will be held on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to Save The Bay RI, 100 Save the Bay Drive, Providence, RI 02905 or online at SaveBay.org would be appreciated. TRIPPFUNERALHOME.com

Paul Bettencourt

July 23, 1940 - April 10, 2021