In loving memory ~
Paul was born in the sulphurous mining town of Sudbury, Ontario, one of the post-war baby boom. His father, Paul, was the son of Lithuanian immigrants and became a police constable with INCO. His mother, Rita, was the daughter of Italian immigrants. So his heritage was a rich cultural mix.
Mother Rita was a multi-term president of the Sudbury Horticultural Society, fighting an uphill battle to beautify a city often called a "moonscape". She was a community activist and winner of the City's Brotherhood Award.
Paul grew up very close to his one-year younger brother, Ken, inseparable friends an sharing the same ironic sense of humour.
Paul earned an Honours degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Windsor and a teaching degree from London's Althouse College of Education. This led to a satisfying three-year stint as a high school English teacher.
Paul somehow managed to convince the beautiful Jane Murray to marry him on April 22, 1972 in a joyous wedding ceremony. Jane was a compassionate registered nurse and later an accomplished nursing educator.
Paul undertook a career in business, first as manager of paper recycling operation, and later joined E. B. Eddy Forest Products in Ottawa to become supervisor of an administrative group. Paul took an exit package during the downsizing of 1991 so that he could transform, with the help of good friend Ruth Cullen, into a management consultant. As a hired gun specializing in classification, human relations and communications, Paul worked with a wide range of federal government departments. This included contracts with Treasury Board Secretariat and Privy Council of Canada.
Work was secondary, however, as Jane and Paul were fully focused on their growing family. Oldest son Corwin is a well-known professional musician, familiar on the music festival circuit, and a sought-after record producer from his recording studio in Cumberland. Taylor is a visual effects artist in the film industry, who as an independent video producer won the Latin Grammy for best short form music video. Terry holds a materials engineering degree but currently works beautifying City of Vancouver parks. Joel is a well-known improv actor in the Comox Valley and also a stand-up comic in the persona of "Joelius Alt". Paul and Jane were blessed to have two grandchildren from Corwin and wife Kirsten: Tao, a dynamic award-winning young filmmaker and bike tour guide, and Kaya, an artist as well as a versatile circus performer and tutor in American Sign Language. Taylor and wife Nicole blessed us with two of the absolutely cutest girls, Sivaeri and Hazel.
Paul enjoyed several fulfilling years of retirement, glorying in his extensive garden, until ill-health set in. But as Frank Capra would have it: "it was a wonderful life!"
To all my family members and friends, consider yourself enthusiastically hugged.
