Obituary of Saul Louis Stockman

Saul L. Stockman aka newsman Paul Smith passed away on April 4^th, 2021. He was 90 years old. Saul was born during the Great Depression to Sam and Bea Stockman. He grew up in Boston, Massachusetts where he first saw his wife-to-be, Gloria while working at a drugstore soda counter as a teenager. He didn’t know who she was, and she left before he could speak to her. A few years later, Saul was set up on a blind date - with Gloria. They were married in 1953 and were together for 65 years until her passing in 2018. Saul’s second love early on was the US Navy. He was a decorated veteran in the early 1950’s serving honorably on the destroyer, USS The Sullivans (DD-537). Saul was extremely proud of his service in the Navy and credits that time with being one of the most positive and formative experiences of his life.

Saul always had a passion for information and broadcasting and wanted to work in radio after The Service. And he was blessed with the voice to do it. Even his CO on The Sullivans told him he should be on the radio when heard Saul’s PA announcements on the ship. His very first on-air position was serendipitous. He drove an acquaintance to an audition at a small radio station in Hartford, CT. While he waited, the station manager said that Saul should audition too since he was there. That’s the first job he got in radio and that was the beginning of PAUL SMITH, the radio persona.

Working his way up in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s through positions at WCCC, WPOP, and WMEX, Paul Smith joined 1010 WINS in 1965 as the station began a groundbreaking move into an all-news format. For nearly 30 years, his distinctive, reassuring voice defined morning drivetime in the New York metropolitan area. So iconic and representative of the era was he that Martin Scorsese cast him to be the voice of the newscast in GOODFELLAS, when Ray Liotta hears the news of the Lufthansa bank heist. His newscasts and voice were also heard in The French Connection, Going In Style, Light Sleeper and other feature films. When he retired in 1995, he was recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of New York.

Saul loved his family deeply. He is survived by his daughter, Helene Stockman-Baer, son-in law Bruce Baer, son Alan Stockman, daughter-in-law Karen Lalli Stockman, daughter L. Suzanne Stockman, and grandsons, Jacob and Eli Stockman. He is also survived by his brother Gerald Stockman.

 A Funeral service will be held at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, April 7, 2020 at Temple Sinai 35 Lakeside Drive Stamford, CT.  A Private Interment will follow.  All Covid protocols will be required.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Saul’s name to The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society https://www.nmcrs.org/.

Arrangements are under the direction of Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home 104 Myrtle Ave Stamford, CT (203)-359-9999. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com

To view the services it is recommended to please refer to the attached zoom link https://zoom.us/j/96406594816?pwd=NjVtSS9Bdm1sTDlHQzdGblJ3K09vQT09