Thursday, August 3, 2023
My friend Paul was the gentlest, kindest and warmest of men. He always had a story, a really long story, to tell and when he ran into someone you could just take a seat for a while. He loved vehicles and came to life when the conversation turned to planes, cars or boats. He was like a color commentator of conveyances!
I first met Paul about 15 years ago, after I joined the flying club. Attending my first meeting I encountered a soft spoken man wearing both a belt and suspenders. On jeans. And the belt closed with a buckle from a car's seat belt. There were no refreshments served, but at my second or third meeting Paul showed up with coffee and doughnut holes for all. Afterwards, volunteers were requested to relocate a plane for maintenance. Paul and I volunteered, and began a great friendship. We flew together regularly, had meals together and talked for hours. That was easy to do with Paul. Calling him gregarious is the essence of understatement.
Of course it was Paul and Andrea that hosted a party for the club at their house, barbequed, fed and wetted us all and brought a social dimension to our group.
With all Paul had to say, I never heard a bad word from him. He liked people so much that he never even seemed to have a bad thought about one. A gentleman and a gentle man, Paul will be missed by many a friend. I'm proud to have been one of them.
