It is with tremendous sadness that we remember Paul Jordan, who died on Friday, September 18, 2026.
Paul first reached out to Building Futures about two years ago. He had found freedom from alcohol use disorder and wanted to help others find that same freedom. That desire—to take what he had learned through his own struggles and use it in service of other people—was at the heart of who Paul was.
Over the past two years, Paul and I got to know each other well. His sardonic sense of humor and deep compassion stand out most to me. He was a skilled and avid guitarist, and when he appeared in one of our We’ve Got Your Back videos, he reached out afterward because it was important to him that his music be included. We went back and re-edited the video, and I’m so glad we did. His music was part of his spirit and part of what he wanted to share with the world.
Paul was a journeyworker carpenter and member and steward with North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Local 330. He is survived by his ex-wife, Becky and his two daughters, Aria and Harmony. I know I speak for all of Building Futures, and our union and contractor partners in our Recovery efforts in wishing our deepest sympathy for Paul's family and union brothers and sisters.
Paul was working hard to rebuild connections with his family in sobriety. Paul loved his dogs, Shadow and Zorro. He had hope for his future. He was the first person in our program to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and he hoped to transition into full-time peer work when he retired. We talked about what might be possible, including his thoughts about going back to school. He genuinely wanted to use his life and his experiences to help others.
Building Futures We’ve Got Your Back program visited Paul’s job site on Friday. I am profoundly grateful that I had the chance to see him and give him a brief hug.
I am sitting with a tremendous sense of loss. I want to honor the memory and spirit of a genuinely good man—a person who made mistakes, as all of us do, and kept moving forward. A man who worked to repair what he could, held onto hope, and wanted his life to make things better for someone else.
Paul, you will be deeply missed. Your humor, your music, your compassion, and your desire to help others will remain with us. May we honor you by continuing the work you cared so deeply about.
