Remembering Steve Paul - Great American, philanthropist and friend - Wisdom of the Warrior - The Fighter Pilot's View

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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Remembering Steve Paul - Great American, philanthropist and friend



Grand Lake friends hold a special place in our hearts.  There is a unique compassion bread in those that spend significant time at an elevation of 8369' in the Rocky Mountains.

Steve Paul is a fellow Delta pilot (retired), former Naval Aviator, and resident of the shores of Grand Lake.  I remember seeing Steve water ski on frigid Grand Lake in November well after turning 60.  Not just water ski, but "shoulder-in-the-water" slalom course ski!

Over the years Steve volunteered on the Grand Lake Shoreowners association to help keep Grand Lake blue and champion a number of initiatives dear to those of us that reside in Grand Lake.

Steve also dedicated much of his time, energy and flying for an organization called Angel Flight.  As a pilot for Angel Flight Steve used his own airplane at his expense to provide free air transportation for children and people that have a medical need that can’t be filled in their local area.

Lindsay and I were so blessed to spend some significant time with Steve this past Saturday night at the 100th Anniversary of the Grand Lake Yacht Club.  He spoke passionately about boating on Grand Lake, his Angel Flight missions, and his precious new twin grandchildren.

Just hours later, Steve's life was taken in an untimely accident.  Truly an Angel, Steve has taken his place far above Grand Lake.  We will miss seeing him in his Cessna 206 helping a sick child, in the water behind his ski natique in the early morning off our dock, and just cruising Grand Lake in his Cris Craft with Ginnie and his dogs.

Steve Paul thank you for so positively impacting all our lives, you will be so truly missed. Your inspiration lives on in these magic waters nestled beneath the Never Summer Mountains and the skies above them.

 "High Flight" by, John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

 Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
 And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
 Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
 of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
 You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
 High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
 I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
 My eager craft through footless halls of air....
 Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
 I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
 Where never lark, or ever[ eagle flew —
 And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
 The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
 Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.  




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