PDW in the studio
“Nature is an honest standard we can turn to… her shapes are a gift. I change them with care.” – Paul Wilson
Pop died October 22 at Stanford Medical Center from complications of heart bypass surgery. For the last 20 months he was living with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a type of terminal blood cancer. The cancer diagnosis was a terrible shock but, as with most things, he kept a positive attitude and productive pace as he continued sculpting, playing tennis, and engaging with friends and family with a vigor and enthusiasm of a man half his age. Unfortunately, he got a double-whammy about 6 months ago as symptoms of heart disease emerged, leading to heart attacks, angio procedures and ultimately a big surgery where he lost his life.
Even when the heart problems slowed him down, Pop stayed active and engaged, creating many beautiful sculptures and enriching the lives of his family, friends and customers in countless ways.
He was a man who made little fuss and said few words and it was his wish not to have any formal memorial service. However, as his passing leaves such a big hole in many of our lives we thought we would create this site as a place to remember, rejoice and share thoughts and stories about Paul and his remarkable life.
Click on the “comment” link at the bottom of this post to see the contributions of others and to share your own thoughts. Or send an email (shawnwilson@yahoo.com) if you have more lengthy text or pictures you’d like to share with others.
We also added some picture galleries and a video of Paul at the Carmel Valley studio. You can see the links at left. More pictures and captions are being added each day. More posts are also in the works, so keep coming back to get a hit of Paul during this difficult time of mourning.
Love,
Dore, Rory, Shawn
Dear Dore
I was saddened to read today that your lovely, wonderful husband had passed away. I know he will be missed terribly by you and your close family.
Our paths crossed for quite a few years and I remember fondly how we would talk after aerobics. I have always had you in my thoughts and have enjoyed “bumping” into you at the farmers market and briefly catching up. The last time I saw you you had mentioned that Paul was not well, but in true Dore form you held your head high and seemed strong. Take care dear Dore and keep the memories close of your loving Paul.
love, Valerie (and Roger too)
From Greg Jenkins
My memories of Paul go back to 1976 when I was a young physician just setting up my medical practice in San Jose. Paul welcomed me to the medical community at O’Connor Hospital, willingly provided guidance on any number of topics related to running a private practice, and referred a number of his patients to me for dermatologic consultation. I appreciated his confidence in my abilities, and am grateful to this day. My wife, Peggy, and I send our condolences to the Wilson family. With our sympathy, Greg Jenkins, M.D.
You are right, Paul made no fuss and his words were few. I enjoyed playing tennis with him a number of times, more recently he was unhappy with his game but never blamed anyone else for a loss.
I am happy I knew him, thanks for being interested in our thoughts.
Francis Duda
Dear Shawn,
I’ve had work/personal encounters in the past year that rolled me like weeds on the road; not that the time did not have its memorable events, but when my mind freezes and looks back, certain dear and precious periods from the past emerged. The sad news about Paul froze my mind in such a way. I thought of the times I was in the valley. The immediate image was the ride Paul gave me up the hills in his favorite bright yellow car. I can see the peaceful blond field with solemn and somehow youthful oak trees. The sunset breezes were indulging.
I met Paul only a few times but he was definitely one of the few people who shaped my view of life values (in case you’re not sure you’re one of the others, with sayings I still think of and share with others). He exemplified how to live a good life, to contribute, and to not just appreciate nature but also participate in it. He’s active, vigorous yet so tranquil at the same time. I think you exhibited so many of his fine capabilities.
I shared the news with my parents. They vividly recalled meeting Paul at the shop on a bright sunny summer day. I was on the way with my parents, uncle and aunt (who passed away few years ago) down to LA then. I’ve been unorganized with my archives but we had some photos together in the yard behind the shop.
Shawn, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Your friends,
Hien, Ngan and Vinh
Hanoi, Vietnam
Paul and I read the obituary notice of Dr. Paul Wilson with great sorrow. We were his patients for many years while he was in practice in San Jose.
He was a kind, considerate, patient and a “top notch doctor”. He never rushed you when you were there for any problem – he was willing to listen and always gave us the best of care. When he told us that he was going to retire we told him that we thought he was too young and should continue working. We knew he wouldn’t do that because he wanted to devote more time to do what he loved, his sculpture work.
Paul and I send our deepest sympathy to the Wilson Family.
Dear Dore, Rory, Shawn,
I am very sorry to know the news.
We have so many of his sculptures including at Los Gatos Town’s plaza “Source”.
My mother enjoyed very much visiting his studio with Emie Yamate while she was in bay area, and we have Paul’s schuptures in Japan also.
Blossoms are scattered by the wind
And the wind cares nothing
But the blossoms of the heart no one can touch
And when a friend has left us for another country
And is no more seen
His beloved presence still live in memory.
With Deepest Sympathy,
Kumiko Iwasawa Vadas
It’s not just Paul and his family. It was watching them together. For them some things seemed easy to do. Back at the San Jose house: I like to remember Paul using their sofa in the family room. Paul would use a sofa like no other. He almost invented an entire way to use a sofa.
Paul would relax, smile and look like he was wading in the Fountain of Youth, but yes he was in the middle of San Jose sprawled back on the family room sofa.
Sounds easy enough, but Paul would be on the sofa with Shawn, at all of Shawn’s ages, on top of him in Paul’s arms. Gosh darn it. It would have crushed my chest and spine to support a fully grown son, as big as Shawn go to be, while lying on the sofa. Paul would look like all of happiness itself. Of course Paul was a physical specimen. Thunderbolts legs that could sprint.
Paul and I played tennis together during the last 5 years. He regularly beat the young 60 and 70 years olds right up to near the end. He was a wonderful and thoughtful role model. All of us at the Carmel Valley Athletic club are missing him
Lee
Auntie Dore, Rory and Shawn,
I will remember Uncle Paul as quiet, peaceful, accepting, joyful, smiling and so gentle. I use to LOVE going to your home on Kocher Lane to water for you or babysit “Shawgger”. I LOVED the “feel” that Auntie Dore and Uncle Paul give to their yard and their home. It touched all of my senses so much and it has made a lasting impression on me, that I’ve always wanted to recreate that same “feel” in our home. Our family thinks of Uncle Paul daily because we are surrounded with many of his gorgeous sculptures. Thank you Uncle Paul for touching our lives in a way so beautiful and unique and that will always be remembered. It was nice to be able to see him and hug him in June.
Love,
Kelly
Dear Dore,
I just wanted you to know that I am thinking about you. You are very much loved. You will always have wonderful feelings and thoughts of Paul.
With Kindness,
Beth Casey
November 06, 2009
Our deepest sympathy and condelences to you, Dor, and family. We will always remember Paul and as a kind and very gentle human being and a classy tennis player!
Kaz and Grazyna Gonet
~ kaz/grazyna gonet
November 02, 2009
Dear Dore,
Our prayers are with you in this time of sorrow. Our club will not be the same with out him. We are happy to have the sculpture he made for us, on our lawn, to always remind us of him. We will miss him, his smile, his friendliness, his cheerfullness, his creativeness. May God be with you and may his soul rest now in heaven.
Scot & Heidi McKay
~ Heidi McKay, Carmel, California
November 01, 2009
Dear Dore, May God be with you and your family in this time of sorrow. We will always remember Paul as a very kind and happy man.
Love, Linda Gesicki and Jean-Louis Colliard
My Uncle Paul:
The beautiful, cool, passionate path of a righteous man, …but I doubt my Uncle Paul would ever describe himself in any such terms. His ego was too in check to go there. But that’s all what Uncle Paul was to me and I think that’s how we all see him…. the Renaissance Man.
His style was flawless and beautiful. His life looked just so smooth to me, as did his whole family …smooth and beautiful, their home and their life.
As I grew up, Uncle Paul was all the things I wanted to be; a groovy, cool, intelligent, confidant, calm man of understated ego with cutting edge style and grace and beauty….it was like he stepped out of the pages of some gorgeous magazine…the image of a perfect life, well lived and fueled by uncompromising passion. But this was an image that was born of substance and soul. Paul was the man who walked the walk and
talked the talk (although he didn’t talk much, another trait I wished I had) but mostly I saw him as a man who cut his own unconventional path, driven by a heart that ran on passion, ran on creativity and self expression and wonder. That’s big! That’s what so impactful and inspiring. That’s what is so brave about him….the courage to do what you love, love what you do and to live your life on your own terms. I think that’s why he was ALWAYS smiling, grinning that subtle Mona Lisa smile that let you know he was enjoying life. That’s how I see my Uncle Paul.
(Plus I love to brag about his success in the arts and the home he and Dore built in Carmel and the whole Nesmith-of-the-Monkeys thing and many other cool stories….yes, but mostly the unique path of cool grooviness he took.)
I miss my Uncle Paul.
From Harry
Paul didn’t talk a lot but his smile spoke volumes. There was a certain joy that surrounded him in The Barn where he created shapes and forms. He seemed to have an audience of friends reflected in pieces of wood that were his company for many days of carving, sanding, chipping, and sculpting. He was certainly at home as he busily did what he loved to do. He undoubtedly experienced the same exuberance when hitting a winner on the tennis court or skiing down a slope in the Sierra. I recall his excitement of exploring the beaches after a storm, and his ability to spot part of a creation in a piece of driftwood. He knew what changes he would make to convert it into a beautiful sculptured form. Generations of art lovers will enjoy Paul’s gift.
Laurie and I send our deepest sympathy to Dore, Shawn and Rory.
From Laurie Federico
I was deeply saddened by Paul’s sudden death. He will be sorely missed by many. My heart goes out to my best friend, Dore. I was so pleased, long ago, when Dore and Paul found each other. It was as if each completed the other so that together, they could do wonderful things.
My memories of Paul are warm and loving because he was so kind and giving. He was a man of many talents, yet he didn’t talk about his accomplishments. He was humble. It seemed that he created for his own enjoyment and as a result, his sculptures brought us great pleasure, such as “The Saint” which we enjoy daily in our living room. I think of Paul as the “Wizard of Whimsy”.
Dear Wilson Family –
Thanks so much for the recent card and the website regarding Paul. We will certainly miss him, his kindness, and his inspiration. It was always such a highlight to drop by the shop and see and speak with Paul (and pick up another fantastic sculpture) on our visits to the area. We’ll treasure our acquaintance and his art, through which he will live on. I’d always leave the studio envious, thinking that Paul had got it all straight and good, and dream about doing what he was doing.
With deepest consolations,
Dave & Margaret Koppenaal
How many times have we gotten a call from Paul: “Hey, when are you guys coming down? It’s been a while!”
We have known Paul for a long time – we met when he was a resident and Vince an intern at the Santa Clara County Hospital, some fifty years ago. How well I remember those dinners where the families were allowed to come to the hospital dining room and share creamed chicken giblets or tortilla casserole with the staff every night. Paul was always there – a man of few words but with a beautiful smile and a twinkle in his eyes. When we got out into the “real world” we moved to Marin County, but kept in touch over the years. We had many good times at Paul and Dore’s homes in San Jose, the Highlands, and then in Carmel Valley, enjoying the fruits of Dore’s kitchen and the local restaurants. Some of the most memorable times were just sitting in the sun on some old chairs behind the barn, and then wandering through the studio wondering “What should be buy this time?”
He stopped in for lunch in August on what he said would probably be his last trip to look for wood. We urged him to stay overnight, but he wanted to get on the road. So we hugged him and sent him on his way. He called that evening, tired but excited about finding some good pieces that afternoon.
Paul’s legacy lives on in our homes in Lucas Valley and The Sea Ranch; we can see his sculpture everywhere we look. He was a kind, gentle and talented man and we were fortunate to know him. Dore, Shawn and Rory – our deepest condolences to you. Marge and Vince
I am so saddened of the news of Dr. Wilson’s death! What a genius he was and how he loved the spirit of wood. I am humbly proud and honored to have 2 of his pieces of art. An Indian Woman in brilliant red wood and a contemporary sculture. Both are always in my livingroom where all can see and feel his talent, his gift of love of nature.
Dear Shawn,
You, your Mom and Rory have been in my heart and prayers. The legacy your Dad left us all was in the way he touched our hearts with his goodness, high principals, work ethic and family values…..and then there was his “gift.” Paul’s ability to take something from nature and “make his magic with it” in such a way as to bring our attention to recognize the beauty it held and hear the voice he so creatively gave it. He made the most of his talent and lived his life sharing it generously. I admired him greatly and feel my life was blessed to have known him. For you to put together this site, and say the wonderful things you did in his honor speaks highly of the bond and love you shared, and the kind of son you have been. Paul would be so proud to know that in passing the torch to you it is burning brighter than ever.
I know you are watching over your Mom. I send much Love and healing prayers to all of you.
Lana Federico
Your Dad was one of a rare breed. He had possibly the most mellow personality I think I ever met. I never remember seeing him upset about anything. He had the ability to take everything in stride and not get ruffled. Yet he was probably as intelligent as anyone I know. And though it never showed — this man was as tough as nails. I had heard stories about his toughness playing football in high school. I also heard how he stuck a broken ski in his leg in the backcountry of the Sierra’s — and had to sew himself up. I believe I might have just said my prayers and bled out.
It would be a waste of time to talk about his artistic talent. You knew it was special as well as anyone alive, I’m sure. His eye for making a piece of wood live again was next to none. It was impossible to ever take place – but for many years I had wished I could spend time with him – in a work shop. And just in life.
Even though I did not get to spend nearly enough time with him — he was one of my heros. He was an exceptional man! In all honesty, Paul was one of those guys that I feel like most people only meet one or two examples of in a lifetime. I know that I will miss him terribly. It was a comfort knowing that he was there.
Shawn, my sentiments to you, your lady and your Mom. I still think about my Dad all the time, after almost ten years. Just like you’ll think about your Dad. Thank the Lord that we have memories of them.
Craig Walker