Thomas J. Paul, a trustee emeritus and generous benefactor of Saint Anselm College, passed away peacefully at his home in Rydal on Monday, Aug. 11. He was 88.
An entrepreneur and philanthropist who was originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Mr. Paul founded Thomas J. Paul, Inc., Creative Marketing Services in 1972 after many successful years of innovative leadership in the marketing communications industry. The company today employs five of his children and nearly 90 employees at the Thomas J. Paul Building in Rydal, Penn., and serves national and multi-national clients in the consumer products and pharmaceutical industries. Mr. Paul was the architect of integrated marketing communications, a concept he pioneered, and an approach to brand marketing communications that is broadly embraced and practiced as an industry standard today.
Mr. Paul had a long relationship with Saint Anselm College, starting during World War II when he was an Army Air Corps pre-flight cadet at the college. He went on to serve as a flight instructor in advanced instrument training, but not before he developed a lifelong relationship with Father Bernard Holmes, O.S.B.
“Tom’s affection for Saint Anselm ran very deep as an alumnus, a parent, a trustee, and extraordinary benefactor of the college,” said Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., president of Saint Anselm. “He provided invaluable assistance to the college during some very critical times by his work as a trustee and by his longtime generosity that included a million dollar gift for the construction of student residences at Father Bernard Court in memory of his dear friend. He will be missed by all of us but his memory will live on for generations on our campus.”
He served on the Board of Trustees of Saint Anselm from 1977 to 1987, and in 1983 the college awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws. Four of his sons, a daughter and a daughter-in-law are graduates of Saint Anselm. John Paul ’70 has been a Saint Anselm trustee since 2001.
A long-time patron and proponent of Catholic education and healthcare, he also served as a trustee emeritus of the Holy Redeemer Health Care Corporation and Foundation and as chair emeritus of its Development and Foundation Council. He was deeply committed to the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, and their mission to care, comfort and heal since the early 1960s. He also served as the chair of the Catholic Charities Appeal in Philadelphia, and as a member of the School Board of Abington Township. His company has also strongly supported development efforts at LaSalle College High School, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Gwynedd Mercy Academy, Saint Joseph’s Prep, Rosemont College, and Fairfield University.
He was elected as a member of the American Association of Master Knights of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1981 in recognition of his support and service to the Catholic Church, and was appointed as an executive professor at Chestnut Hill College in 1979.
Mr. Paul is survived by his wife Jane (Wheeler). He was a devoted father to his nine children; daughters Susan Exum (Jack), Barbara Ryan, and Jane Paul, and sons John (Judy), Jim (Denise), Jeff (Mary), Joe (Donna), Tom (Ellen) and Andrew (Denise), and proud grandfather of 16 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Friends and relatives are invited to his viewing on Friday, Aug. 15, from 4 to 6 p.m. and from 8 to 10 p.m. (after the 7 p.m. Mass of the Feast of the Assumption) at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 1500 Marian Road, Abington, Penn., 19001. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held there on Saturday, Aug. 16, at 10 a.m. Interment will be at George Washington Memorial Park, Butler Pike and Stenton Avenue, Plymouth Meeting, Penn., 19462.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Paul’s name may be made to Saint Anselm College, 100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH, 03102; Holy Redeemer Health System, 521 Moredon Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA, 19006; and Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 1500 Marian Road, Abington, PA, 19001.
Arrangements by:
Fitzpatrick Funeral Home, Abington, PA 19001
Please note that the viewing will be suspended promptly at 6 p.m. for the Mass of the Feast of the Assumption, and will resume at 8 p.m.