Paul Layden

Paul William Layden Sr., MD, age 90, died peacefully November 29, 2014 at his home. He was born March 2, 1924, the only son of Nan and Francis Layden of Union City, PA.

Paul graduated from Bucknell University in 1946 where he met his beloved wife, Jane. In 1950, he graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his internship at St. Vincent Hospital in Erie and his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Buffalo General, Buffalo Children’s and Buffalo Veteran’s Administration Hospitals. From 1955-1957, Paul served as Captain with the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Fort Dix, NJ. He returned to Erie in 1957 with his young family and started a long career as an Orthopaedic Surgeon who practiced at St. Vincent Hospital. Paul was President of the Medical Staff at St. Vincent in 1975 and President of the Erie County Medical Society in 1978. He was one of the founding partners of Orthopaedic Surgeons Inc. located at the corner of 26th and Sassafras Streets.

Paul Layden was an extraordinary person who had many talents. In his younger years he played the clarinet and saxophone and was the lead singer in his band called the “Rhythm Kings”. In his later years, he loved playing golf at Lake Shore Country Club. He spent countless hours working in his beautiful lakefront gardens. Aside from all his talents and accomplishments, most will remember him as a gentle and kind man who loved his family and friends.

Survivors include his five children: Susan Mehl Murphy and her husband Michael of Fairview and Cincinnati, OH, Nan Keach and her husband John of Columbus, IN, Kay Flanagan and her husband Timothy of Durango, CO, Amy Crispen and her husband William of Indianapolis, IN, and Paul W. (Chip) Layden Jr., MD of Allentown, PA; eight grandchildren: David Henderson Mehl of New York, NY, T. John Mehl and his wife Nickie of Rahway, NJ, Julie Keach Kerrigan and her husband, Brendan of Highland Park, IL, J.K. Keach and his wife Danielle of Evansville, IN, Colleen and Kathleen Crispen of Indianapolis, IN, Anne Crispen Morris and her husband Jeff of Keller, TX and John Paul Flanagan of Cheyenne, WY; and two great granddaughters: Alexandra Jane and Demetra Elle Mehl of Rahway, NJ. He is further survived by his sister Cathryn Ann Landis and her husband Dick of Union City, PA.

Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th St. (at Powell Ave.) on Friday, December 5th from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm, and are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, December 6th at St. Jude Church at 10am. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Foundation, 100 Barber Place, Erie, PA 16507, where he took care of the orthopaedic needs of the children for 51 years.