Paul Joseph Paulson, a longtime resident of Greenwich CT, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 6 at the age of 89.
Paul was born in White Plains, New York on September 25, 1932 to Anne Loughlin, an Irish immigrant from Galway, and Paul Paulson (Pavlos Pavlidis) an immigrant from Greek Cyprus. Paul the son grew up in White Plains, working at his father’s Diner after school and playing baseball for the White Plains High School Tigers. After attending Naval Boot Camp in the Summer of 1949, Paul was admitted to The Ohio State University and thus deferred his military service until graduation. During his time at OSU, Paul was an active member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. The National Sigma Chi Fraternity recognizes Paul as a “Significant Sig,” an honor that recognizes those alumni members whose exemplary achievements in their fields of endeavor have brought great honor and prestige to the name of Sigma Chi.
Upon Graduation from OSU in December of 1954, Paul attended the US Naval Officer’s Candidate School in Providence, RI earning his commission as an officer in May 1955. While serving as a Lieutenant in the Navy, Paul received a Letter of Commendation from the Vice Admiral of the Sixth Fleet for his actions during the Suez Crisis of 1956, where the US Navy was called upon to evacuate 1500 civilians from the Middle East on the eve of mounting hostilities between Israel and Egypt. Lieutenant Paulson’s role in handling classified communications between the US Naval assets, local authorities, and military forces from France and Great Britain were deemed crucial in the successful and safe evacuation of hundreds of local civilians.
Following his honorable discharge from the US Navy, Paul received his MBA from the Wharton Business School in 1959 and in 1962 was the founding Director of the Wharton Club of New York City. In 1959, Paul joined Compton Advertising, a leading advertising agency based in New York City. While at Compton, Paul ran the account for Procter & Gamble, the largest advertiser in the country at the time. Advertising was not just a job but a passion as Paul regularly used his wife and 5 children as focus group participants in front of the family TV, watching rough-cuts of various TV spots prior to broadcasting them nationally. In 1978 Paul was recruited away from Compton to join the creative powerhouse Doyle Dane Bernbach, as President of DDB New York. DDB was responsible for some of the most iconic advertising in history from brands such as Volkswagen, Polaroid, American Tourister, and Alka Seltzer. In 1982, Paul left DDB to start his own agency with creative partner Tony Isidore. Isidore & Paulson’s clients included Kraft General Foods, Princess Hotels, American Home Products, Guinness Stout and Harp Ales. Paul retired from the Ad business in 1992 and continued to serve as a marketing consultant until 2010.
By far, the most rewarding part of Paul’s life was the time he spent with his family, friends and dogs. Paul and his wife Kathy raised their family in the Milbrook neighborhood of Greenwich, CT which became a central theme in Paul and Kathy’s life. Whether playing endless hours of tennis or paddle tennis, attending swim meets for his children and then grandchildren, walking his furry best friends Buck, Bear, Hunter or Legend, Milbrook was part of the fabric of Paul Paulson. Paul will forever be fondly remembered among his many Milbrook Tennis and Paddle companions as “Coach” for his friendly yet relentless drive to keep the matches fully attended and on schedule, and among his “GOB’s” Fairfield County tennis partners where Paul served as President from 2012-2016.
Paul is survived by his wife of 59 years Kathryn (Keeler) Paulson, his brother Andrew Paulson of Wilkes Barre, PA, his five children: Thomas Paulson, Mark Paulson, Kathryn Paulson O’Brien (son-in-law Michael), John Paulson (daughter-in-law Stephanie) and Clifford Paulson (daughter in-law Terri) as well as twelve grandchildren: Cole and Scarlett Paulson, Kyleigh, Shayleigh and Declan O’Brien, Ella, Tate and Hudson Paulson, Carter, Elizabeth, Georgia, and Ford Paulson. We are so grateful for Paul the husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend. We will love and remember you always.
A private family service was held at Saint Catherine of Siena Church in Riverside, CT, followed by a Navy Military Salute in his honor. The family plans to host a reception to celebrate Paul’s life at his beloved Milbrook Club at a date this Spring to be determined.