Paul James Cassidy

Paul James Cassidy of Plano, Texas was a loving husband of Marla Jean Cassidy for 57 years, Cassidy. He passed away peacefully on March 1, 2018, with his family at his side.

Paul was born February 11, 1935, in Saratoga Springs, New York, the site of the nation’s oldest race track. He was the son of the late John and Pauline (Buckholz) Cassidy. Paul possessed a deep, lifelong passion for thoroughbred horse racing; eventually becoming a successful Thoroughbred owner. He regularly returned to Saratoga Springs during racing season, visiting his parents, reconnecting with childhood friends, attending races with his brother John J. Cassidy, and seeing his sister Ann M. (Cassidy) Rowe and her family.

Following graduation from Michigan State University and completion of his service in the U.S. Army, Paul moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he married Marla in 1960, and served as an Assistant Manager at the Pittsburgh Hilton. Impressed by his attention to detail and personality, a representative at the local radio station KDKA offered Paul a sales position.

Paul embarked on a career in the radio and television industries that spanned 50 years culminating in the early 2000’s as Chairman of Cordillera Communications, a subsidiary of Evening Post Industries.

Earlier in his career, Paul managed a series of prominent news, rock and contemporary music radio stations, including KHJ, KLOS, KTNQ and KGBS in Los Angeles and KSFX in San Francisco. Paul’s career in TV station management started in 1981 at KOLD in Tucson, Arizona. He subsequently managed TV stations in Lafayette, Louisiana (KATC) and Buffalo, New York (WKBW), before joining Cordillera Communications in 1995 as President of the company’s newly created TV division.

Paul’s professional accomplishments, however, were dwarfed by his boundless love, joy and support for his family. In addition to his wife Marla, Paul is survived by his children, Paula Polma and her husband Frank of Dallas, Texas; Carolyn Cassidy and her husband Zach McGee of Los Angeles, California; Kevin Cassidy and his wife Nicky of Dallas, Texas; and Stephen and his wife Amy of San Leandro, California; six grandchildren he adored, Olivia and Max Cassidy, Fiona and Maeve Cassidy, and Violet and Julia McGee; and several nieces and nephews and their families. Paul is predeceased by his brother John and sister Ann.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Paul’s life on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, Texas.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations in his Paul’s name to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. http://www.thoroughbredaftercare.org/