Obituary of Paul J. Bramah

Paul J. Bramah, a Capital Region native with a gentle artistic soul, died suddenly on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, in Albany. He was 34 and had recently been living in Albany. A drummer when young, he became a guitar player who liked to send short recordings of newly written riffs to family and friends. Paul enjoyed many forms of music as well as fishing and camping, and he had an eye for taking striking photographs. Tragically, Paul also became a statistic of the opioid epidemic in America, one of an estimated 80,000 people who will die this year from opioid-related overdoses — a number that has nearly doubled since his younger brother, Christopher J. Bramah, died in a similar manner four years ago this month. Helped by a mother who was a nurse but switched careers to try to better understand addiction, Paul battled the disease, often saying that while he missed Chris terribly, he did not want to die young like Chris had. His passing robs those who cared for him the chance to keep loving him, except in memory. A devoted father who FaceTimed his daughter in Florida every week after dance class, Paul was raised in Schodack, where he lived into his early 20s. Possessed of a wanderlust not uncommon in his family, he also lived in Florida and Texas, always returning to Albany. He held jobs in the utility industry and as a delivery driver, among other fields. Paul is survived by his daughters, whose names reflect his passion for music: Melody of Wynantskill and Harmony of Florida. Other survivors include his parents, father James Bramah (Lauren) of Kinderhook and mother Terri Bramah of Florida; sister Anissa Alonzo (James) and brother Jim Bramah of Florida; grandmother Janice Malmberg of East Greenbush; nieces and nephews Jimmy, Alexander, Emerson and Braden; a special aunt, Linda McGuire, and other and aunts and uncles who loved him dearly. He is also survived by his stepsiblings, Steven and Julia. The calling hours and service will be held starting at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home in Valatie. Funeral Services will begin at 12 PM with Rev. Nick Becker officiating. Burial to follow in Kinderhook Cemetery, in a plot next to his brother Chris. Family gratitude to Allure Detox Center, Kristy Killen, and Chelsea for providing the resources to help Paul during his greatest need. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul's name to The Lucky Horse Sanctuary, 4250 NW 43rds St., Coconut Creek, FL 33073, or via its website, theluckyhorsesanctuary.org.