Paul Hoerlein

Paul Hampton Hoerlein was born in Portland, Oregon to Paul Frank Hoerlein and Mildred Hoerlein. Known to his family as “Buddy Paul”, he grew up in Hood River with his older sister Nancy on an orchard in the Mt. Hood foothills where he learned the value of family ties, hard work and faith. Through his dad’s affiliation with mountain rescue group The Crag Rats he gained a love and respect for the outdoors.Paul graduated from Whitman College with a degree in History and (after Army service in Korea) a wife—Beverlei Nuzum, a classmate from Yakima.

In 1954 they moved to Seattle to begin their careers in the Seattle Public Schools. Paul started as an elementary teacher, later serving as a principal and assistant superintendent. Along the way he earned an MA from the UW, a Fulbright grant to teach in England and a Kellogg Grant to study at Yale.

Paul and Bev raised four children (David, Pamela, Diana and Jonathan) in Lake Forest Park and Kirkland and the kids all share their parents’ curiosity and adventurous spirit.The family’s trusty VW van towed a tent trailer many miles across the US and Canada. Later, a cherished getaway was Decatur Island in the San Juans.

After retiring in 1984, Paul continued his passion for education, working on projects to preserve Seattle Schools history and serving as an adjunct professor for teacher training at SPU. He was a Kirkland Parks board member and sous-chef to Bev’s burgeoning real estate career.

Paul loved to sing, whether it was as a member of the Kirkland Congregational Church choir, beside a crackling beach fire in Arch Cape or Decatur, and around the tree at the annual Juleaften (Christmas Eve) celebrations hosted by his Danish daughter-in-law.

Travel was a big part of Paul and Bev’s life, as was the pleasure they took in supporting the activities of their eight grandchildren (Nils, Ian, Colin, Lillian, Nathan, Evan, Hans and Lindsey). Plenty of love and sage advice was imparted to grand kids and kids alike--for which we are all grateful. He was preceded in death by Bev and his sister Nan Harris.

Thanks to the special friends and the staff at Woodland Terrace and all of his dedicated,loving caregivers.

You can honor Paul by supporting your local school or donating to the Hood River Crag Rats, and most importantly, by caring for one another.

A celebration of his life will be held September 28 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Haynes Hall at McMeniman’s Anderson School in Bothell. Join us!