Disabilities rights advocate Paul Spooner is remembered as 'irreplaceable'

BOSTON — Paul Spooner, a longtime advocate for people with disabilities who had been active on Beacon Hill for decades, died unexpectedly on Saturday, the organization he led announced.

He was 67.

Spooner, who lived in Taunton, was executive director of the MetroWest Center for Independent Living in Framingham since the early 1990s and was a champion for the personal care attendant program, which helps people with disabilities live more independent lives.

He had muscular atrophy, and had used a wheelchair since he was 7 years old.

The center said Spooner was "especially focused on the Independent Living philosophy, where people with disabilities are the experts on their own needs," and that he picked up on the power and importance of technology early on.

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"Most people in the disability community have interacted with Paul, and even more have benefited from his advocacy for disability services and rights. Paul quickly switched from in-person to Zoom when COVID-19 hit and stayed just as effective in fighting for legislative action," the center said. "He fought for a seat at the tables where his astute vision, attention to detail and careful strategic ideas led to many successes in improving the lives of people with disabilities."

Senate President Karen Spilka appointed Spooner to serve on the state's new Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities and he was tapped as treasurer of that group.

Chairwoman Rep. Denise Garlick announced Spooner's passing to the commission Tuesday morning.

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"Paul was instrumental in creating a vision for our commission that would modernize accessibility rights in Massachusetts," said Garlick, a Needham Democrat. "He was driven, passionate and strategic in his advocacy, where his voice impacted policy and programs that improved the lives of countless individuals with disabilities."

Rose Quinn, assistant director at MetroWest Center for Independent Living, worked with Spooner for more than 30 years.

"He always looking forward,” Quinn said, adding that Spooner was at the helm of many initiatives, including training the National Council on Independent Living on how to use computers in the 1990s.

“We're gonna miss his voice for a very long time to come,” Quinn added. “There's very few people like Paul, unfortunately.”

After just recently moving to a location Spooner helped design, Quinn said he hardly worked a day at the new space before falling ill. He was a “central force ever since he first came in the door,” she added, and his presence will not soon be forgotten.

“He was just always a driven person, he never complained about anything,” Quinn said. “He had a wry sense of humor, but just made himself known wherever he went.”

The Boston Center for Independent Living said that Spooner's fingerprints are on "too many bills, programs, civil rights complaints, and other advances for people with disabilities to count."

"Paul Spooner passionately lived disability rights. It defined him and he helped define the cause," the Boston center wrote. "He's totally irreplaceable."

Mark Dempsey, Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the city of Framingham, said Spooner made systemic changes not just locally, but throughout the state, all while training advocates to do the same.

“I think his passion will live on among other people with disabilities, fighting for what they believe in,” Dempsey said.

Funeral services were still being arranged.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: MetroWest Center of Independent Living director Spooner dies at 67