Paul Edward West's Obituary
Paul Edward West passed away in Lewes, Delaware on the evening of December 2, 2024, at the age of 73, in the presence of his loving family. Paul was a gifted raconteur, an adventurous soul, and an immense lover of people.
Paul was a loving, generous, and fiercely loyal husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather. He was an avid naturalist and birdwatcher, bridge player, wine aficionado, history buff, and music lover, all interests he particularly enjoyed sharing with others. Among friends and family, he was loved for his humor, easygoing nature, and storytelling prowess. Bender of rules, stretcher of truths, pusher of boundaries, lover of life; Paul was happiest when gathered with loved ones in a kitchen, around a backyard fire or at the beach. He loved the people close to him deeply, and they all felt his love.
Paul was born on December 27, 1950, in Washington, D.C. to Ernest and Ann West. He lived in the D.C. area before moving to northern California in 1974 with his wife, Mary Ann Daly. Paul graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in English while working as a furniture mover. Naturally charming, he talked his way into what would become a successful 40-year career in sales in the international shipping industry.
In 1986, Paul and Mary Ann returned to the East Coast after the birth of their daughter, Madeleine. They settled in Odessa, DE, where their son, Elliott, was born before moving to Swarthmore, PA and eventually Berkeley Heights, NJ, where they lived for 25 years. There he developed his lifelong passion for golf, as well as his love of birding, gardening, and running. After many summers spent at the Delaware beaches, he and Mary Ann retired to Rehoboth Beach in 2017.
Throughout his life, Paul traveled extensively around the country and world. He maintained a particular fondness for Paris, Amsterdam, and the Caribbean Island of St. Martin, where he and Mary Ann visited many times. His adventurous spirit was driven by a love of art, nature, food, world history and a preternatural ability to converse and connect with strangers across any cultural barrier. His year spent touring Europe and the Middle East as a young man, as well as a stint living in Alaska, nurtured what would become a lifelong appreciation of diverse cultures and people.
He is survived by his wife Mary Ann, daughter Madeleine and grandchildren Wesley and Peter (Denver, CO), son Elliott and daughter-in-law Anya (Cambridge, MA), and sister Carol (Stowe, VT). He will be missed by a large extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Paul never wanted anyone to fuss over him. To honor that, the family will make plans to gather privately at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Friends of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton, DE 19968, Attn: Carol Knapp.
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