Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home ~ Kingston, New York ~ Caring Funeral and Cremation Services

For over 50 year our family cares for yours

1953: Frank and Julia Guido Simpson began a tradition of dedicated service to our community.

1981: Bob Gaus and his parents continued serving our families with a special caring and compassion.

2011: Paul Hammerl who, with Bob Gaus, will continue the legacy started by Frank and Julie.

A COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL,
COMPASSIONATE SERVICE CONTINUES...

Paul R. Hammerl

Paul R. Hammerl President and Licensed NY / CT Funeral Director. Paul is a native New Yorker, having been born and raised in Buffalo. His extended family includes his parents, Andrew & Margaret Hammerl, his sister, Mary Beth Brennan and his fiance, Anna Surkus, who is also part of the Simpson-Gaus family. After taking a death and dying course in college, he became interested in funeral service. Enrolling and graduating from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service, Paul became New York State licensed in 1989. He also attained a Bachelor of Science degree from Medaille College in New York.

In 1998, Paul moved to Fairfield County in Connecticut where he first managed the Raymond Funeral Home in Norwalk and then the Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan. Always having desired to own and operate his own funeral home, Paul purchased the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home in November of 2011.

In Connecticut, Paul was a member of the Rotary Club, was active in the Boys and Girls Club as well as the past president of the United Way Young Professionals. He is currently a member of St. Joseph's Church, the Ulster Chamber of Commerce, and both the New York State Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.

He looks forward to serving the community of Kingston and carrying on the high level of service that families have come to expect from the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home. Paul now lives above the funeral home, and when he is not serving the community, he enjoys collecting and restoring art deco artifacts and antique Lionel Toy Trains.

Robert J. Gaus

Robert J. Gaus, Licensed NYS Funeral Director, owned and operated Simpson-Gaus from 1981 until November 2011. A graduate of SUNY Farmingdale, Bob previously worked at Mangano Funeral Home in Deer Park, Long Island. Over the past years Bob has reached out to the entire community and offered a sense of compassion to all who call. Meeting the needs of all, he blends the traditional with the contemporary. Simpson-Gaus has become a leader in the Hudson Valley by creating numerous custom and personalized offerings to our families.

Bob is active in many local organizations including Secretary and past president of the Dutchess, Putnam, Ulster Funeral Directors Association; he is an active member of the New York State Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. He is a member and past president of the Kingston Lions Club and member and past board chair of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce. A 3rd and 4th Degree member of the Kingston Council #275 and 4-time Grand Knight, he is the music director of The Schola at the Hurley Mission at St. Joseph's Church. Over the years he has performed with Ars Choralis in Woodstock, the Mendelssohn Club in Kingston, and Coach House Players in Kingston. An honorary member of the Chevra Kadisha of Greater Kingston, he is a board member of Ulster Greene ARC, an honorary member of St. Mary's Benevolent Society and former board member of Ulster County Hospice and later Hospice, Inc.

Bob was recently honored, in June 2010, by Congregation Ahavath Israel (Conservative synagogue in Kingston) with a dinner and roast for his community involvement and support of the Jewish community. In 2007 he was presented with the "Quality of Life Award" for his dedicated service to the Jewish community and the community at large by Rebbetzin Chava Hecht of Camp Emunah and Rabbi Yitzchok Hecht of the Chabad Ulster County.

With his cat Felix and dog Trina, Bob lives on Sleepy Hollow Lake in Athens (Greene County). His dad, Robert "R.C." Gaus lives around the corner. His mom, Catherine, recently died on March 11, 2007.

Dominick Pagnotta
Dominick, a licensed funeral director and embalmer for Simpson - Gaus for the past 10 years lives in Marlboro. A former school teacher for the Marlboro School District, Dom selected funeral service as his second profession. He specializes in all aspects of embalming and restorative art... we consider him to be one of the finest in our profession.