Paul Daly

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Paul Matthew Daly, beloved Friend to many. He came to San Jose Friends Meeting in the early 2000s, as a quiet contemplator, meditating silently for solace as a therapist who counseled many with significant mental health issues.

Paul became active in our community a few months before the pandemic began and put both feet forward to find ways to support the life of our Meeting — spiritually, financially, and with community and committee work. He served tirelessly with the Homelessness Committee, providing water, sleeping bags, socks and food most weeks to the unhoused for 5 years. He wrote grants so that the Homelessness Committee even now receives yearly grants of socks to be distributed. At times, so many boxes of socks were received that they needed to be stored at his house, in addition to our Meeting’s Peace Haven and the Brinton House garage. While serving the unhoused with food and other resources, he spoke with them and connected with and encouraged them, treating them with respect and compassion.

Paul supported San Jose Friends Meeting’s Harvest Festival book sale by transporting books for months from Palo Alto to San Jose, then back again after sorting. Then he participated in selling books during the day of the sale. Paul was active with Pacific Yearly Meeting and Quarterly Meeting. Using his excellent clinical skills, Paul served on the Nominating and Caring Committees, connecting individuals with their special skills for committees and regularly visiting shut-ins and providing listening support to those in need.

Paul made the decision to seek membership and became a member of San Jose Friends Meeting on July 9, 2023. He was the clerk of the Meeting from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025 and at that time devoted his life to our meeting. Besides faithfully worshiping with us, he attended and provided guidance to monthly committee meetings, including Finance, Wheelchair Accessibility, Ministry and Worship, Nominating and Caring Committees, while still serving the unhoused in our community.

During the last year of his life, he also served on San Jose Friends Meeting’s 140th Anniversary Committee and spent several days trying to find and unearth the time capsule that was buried by First Day School 25 years ago. Despite his illness, which he knew might be terminal, he demonstrated quiet wisdom and was a calming influence to all. He was a gift to our Meeting and left behind big shoes that will be difficult to fill. He is deeply missed.