On a bright and sunny morning in August 2022, Paul Carl Michaelis passed away peacefully surrounded by the things he loved best: the outdoors and his adoring family.
Paul was the first child of Carl and Ida (Dunne). Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Paul would briefly leave the GTA to earn his B.A in Sociology and Psychology from Houghton College in New York, before pursuing his work and family life in Toronto.
Launching his career as a social worker for the Children's Aid Society, Paul quickly became the acting Executive Director. Paul decided to switch careers in 1979, becoming an Executive Search Consultant with Woods Gordon (now Ernst & Young) and made Partner shortly thereafter. He moved to Heidrick & Struggles as Partner before launching his own search firm, which became one of the leading recruiting firms in the not-for-profit sector.
Paul was an avid canoeist, cyclist and skier. He fulfilled his lifelong dream of canoeing the Nahanni River in his late 60s despite battling symptoms of a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy.
Above all else, Paul was a beloved father, grandfather, partner, brother and friend. He is survived by his daughters Sherry (Hector) and Sarah (Don), his grandchildren Kat (Jairus), Alyssa, Christian and Isabel, and his loving partner Gail Foy. He is predeceased by his brother Philip (Sheila) and will be remembered by his sisters Linda (Ron) and Loralea (Stephen), as well as his nieces and nephews, Tim, Ryan (Michelle), Sean (Kerri), Daniel and Theo, along with his adored great nieces and nephews. Paul will be missed by his best friend of many years, Jim (Linda) Thompson.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Muscular Dystrophy Canada or Hospice Simcoe would be greatly appreciated.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at the Newton Robinson United Church Cemetery (4386 10 Line, Bond Head, ON).
Arrangements entrusted to the Paul F. Kent Funeral Home, Cookstown.