Obituary John Paz

John Paz , 76, president of Paz Brothers, Inc. and the founder of Godwin Pumps of America, died August 12, at his home in Mickleton, N.J., after an extended illness.

Paz was one of the three brothers who founded Paz Brothers Construction in 1956. Headquartered in Bridgeport, N.J., the company specializes in heavy construction, performing site work including excavation, grading and earthmoving for new development and restoration.

He was also the founder of Godwin Pumps of America, Inc., with head offices in Bridgeport, N.J., and Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.

Born March 30, 1930, in Bridgeport, N.J., Paz was one of six children — four boys and two girls — of Polish immigrants Michael and Mary Paz. Following in their parents' footsteps, John and his brothers showed early signs of strong determination, a keen business sense and an incredible work ethic. The three sons pooled their money, sought a bank loan and with their father's help, bid on their first job.

In 1961, the men incorporated and John became president. John helped pioneer the first self-loading scraper that set new standards of earthmoving in heavy construction. This step allowed Paz Brothers to win the bid for the 1968 reconstruction of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, Chesapeake, Md., and in 1970 the approach to the Commodore Barry Bridge spanning the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey — two of the most successful projects in the company's history.

Paz Brothers also owned and developed the Bridgeport Speedway, a one-half mile stockcar racetrack, formed JBT Leasing Corporation, and created the Logan Sand & Gravel Company in Bridgeport, N.J.

In the mid-70s on a family vacation to England, he investigated the opportunity to bring a new product to the United States — pumps. He was renting pumps locally and looked into an automatic, self-priming pump manufactured overseas. As a result, he formed Godwin Pumps of America in 1976.

In 1978, he passed responsibility for the operations to his son, John Michael. John Michael became president in 1978 and remains president and owner today. The company employs more than 600 people around the world and realizes sales of $165 million.