Lou Humphreys
I met Paul when he was 5 years old. He was energetic, loving, and interested in anything I would teach him. In my first year of college, he was 8 and sent me a picture of a U.S. Navy plane which he had drawn and a copy of a letter he had sent to the U.S. President, telling him that he wanted to be a Naval pilot. I still have the drawing and letter. Later, while I was visiting the family, he shot off a rocket he had made, and it went several hundred feet into the air. Later still, while visiting for a snowy weekend, he got up at dawn and built an igloo by collecting buckets of snow and packing them into a sizeable hut. He was so proud to show me what he had made. Paul loved to receive approval for his achievements, and it was very easy to give him what he needed, as he always excelled in any endeavor. The last time I saw him, he, too, was an adult. He visited me while he was home visiting his family. As he was leaving, he surprised me with a kiss, which I quickly ended and scolded him. It hurt his feelings, and that made me sad, as he was always such a sweet, sensitive boy. Paul was an exceptional human being, with a complete understanding of himself. While most people are recognized for their academic or workplace contributions, (and Paul’s are far beyond the majority of people who devote themselves to a single study) his real contribution to life was his ability to love and express himself honestly and openly. He brought pure joy to everyone. Missed?....Most certainly, as much as anyone I have ever known and lost.
