Norman Dean Paolucci

kill Norman Dean Paolucci “Mr.Dean”, 62, of Cadiz, Ohio passed away Saturday, January 24, 2026, at WVU Medicine Harrison Community Hospital surrounded by family and friends following a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was a son, brother, uncle, great uncle, and friend to many. He was born on October 13, 1963, in Martins Ferry, Ohio.

Dean started working at a very young age delivering newspapers then went on to stock shelves at the local grocery store (Pat’s M&K), from there to Whitlatch Auto Body followed by Hardy Coal Company, Buckeye Landscape, Harrison County Garage and finally New Athens Water & Street Department.

Dean was always working on or building something, including the garage he lived in. He was the “Jack of all Trades”. Appreciated by all that needed transported to appointments or the hospital, day or night. He was a fan of Nascars’ Darrell Waltrip but the dirt track was his passion, following T-8 (Banal). The stories told were very entertaining. Dean loved being outside. Welding during the day, then sitting by a fire jamming to WDVE 102.5, Led Zep, Ramble On being “his song”. He would always say he was “bad to the bone” and although the cancer changed his looks, he would remind himself “It’s not about looks it’s about performance.”

He was preceded in death by his father, Norman Edward “Ed” Paolucci, stepmother, Karen Skinner and his beloved cat Harley Girl.

He is survived by his mother, Betty M. Kurtz Paolucci; sister, and care giver, Chriscel Kelley; sister, Dannell (Jim) Luyster; niece, (Dr. Jeca) Jessica (Andy) Bates; nephew, Derrick (Monica) Kelley; great niece (his buddy), McKenna June Kelley.

Per Dean’s wishes cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Dean requested that people donate to the Harrison County Cancer Crusaders in his name, as they were a tremendous help in his journey. Contributions may be mailed to the Harrison County Cancer Crusaders, c/o Julie McPeak, 226 Charleston Street, Cadiz, Ohio 43907.

See You on the Other Side 

“My uncle, Norman Dean Paolucci, was truly one of the wildest, strangest, meanest dudes I’ve ever met… and I’ve met members of the Hells Angels and the Banditos. If you know, you know. He was also one of the kindest, soft hearted, hard-shell-outside-gooey-on-the-inside people there was. He had a funny way of showing it from time to time, but every now and then he’d slip up and let his big heart show. He’d threaten to take the wheels of my dirt bike and hang them on the wall for forgetting to check the oil properly or keeping it full of gas. Then later that day he’d take me for a ride on his bike or let me hang around the garage while he worked and I’d watch… or steal stickers and adult magazines out of his office drawer. It took a long time for him and I to have a positive relationship. He was tough on me as a kid, he was tough on me as a teenager, and as I grew older we started to kind of figure each other out. Never would have thought we’d have the same kind of outlook on a lot of things. I think he was so hard on me because he knew it’d make me tough. Kind of a Boy Named Sue sort of situation. Again, if you know, you know. He knew he was the only real male presence in my life. So, he tried to teach me the only way he knew how to. With grit and stubbornness and tough love… but love all the same. He’d tell you he was fighter not a lover, but we all knew he was both. You wouldn’t have a single story about him helping you out if he was as mean as he put on. That’s what he always tried to do was help. He was many a folks savior and helping hand. He helped me more than he’ll ever know. We may never have sat down and tore apart motors together, practiced welding together, or hell even had a beer or 6 just him and I telling tales out of school…. but he did teach me a lot and for that I am forever grateful. I only wish he could still be here teaching me. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a great-uncle, a friend and the only person who could out-argue my wife. I’ll miss his wild stories, his one-off phrases, and his ability to always make me laugh even when he wasn’t trying. In other words one of his all time favorites, Uncle Dean, I’ll see you on the other side. 

Love, Derrick.

Rip Norman Dean Paolucci, 1963-2026.”

The memorial guestbook may be signed at clark-kirkland-barr.com.