Paul Theodore Linsk passed away at his home in San Diego, CA at the age of 81, surrounded by his wife and 3 girls, and after a valiant 6-month battle with bladder cancer. Paul was born October 25th, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York to his late parents, Abraham and Rebecca Linsk. He was the youngest and last surviving of 4 boys, Phil, Jack and Leo.

Paul met the love of his life, Arlene Milstein, at the Park Circle Roller Skating Rink in Brooklyn, NY in1950. Paul spotted Arlene in her uncharacteristic pink cashmere sweater and knew he found his soul mate. He tripped Arlene by design and they instantly became childhood sweethearts at the young ages of 14 and 16. They were married on December 22nd, 1956 after he came home from Italy during the Korean War. Paul graduated from Long Island University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science and became a Certified Public Account in 1964. True to his detail oriented and meticulous ways, Paul and Arlene spent a few years planning before beginning their family – careers up and running, then a house in NJ, then money in a savings account, and then they were ready to start their family.

Family always came first and he would do anything for them. Knowing he wasn’t a diver, Paul once belly flopped his way into the pool to join a family relay race at the swim club. He was an organized, take charge person – canned goods were alphabetized; he pushed strollers, changed diapers and cleaned the house before it was what fathers did; he stepped in for Arlene when she was hospitalized in Philadelphia in 1970, although the fondue may have run the risk of burning the house down and Sue walked out of a sensible shoe store with groovy platforms; but, most importantly, to quote Paul, he was there to talk to his children about everything “from soup to sex.” Paul was the confidant for his nieces, nephews, and his children’s friends, always ready to listen and offer sage advice. As one of his nephews said, “Uncle Paul was the anchor of the family.”

Paul loved and appreciated the outdoors. As a boy, he looked forward to camping with his older brother Jack and his wife, Minnie, and later enjoyed visiting national parks with Arlene. He spent his free time in his early-married years, bowling, coaching softball, and chairing committees at his synagogue and country club in Lake Hiawatha, NJ. Enthusiasm for his sports teams was also a favorite pastime, starting with his first baseball love, the NY Giants. His move to San Diego influenced Paul’s loyalty to root for the Padres and the Chargers.

Paul was patriotic from his time in the U.S. Army to flying a flag outside of his home. He took his family up and down the east coast visiting monuments, landmarks and battlefields. He was honored to serve his country in the US and overseas. Later in life he cherished the opportunity to visit the beaches of Normandy, as well as the base where he was stationed in Italy, with his wife and youngest daughter, Donna.

Paul loved his job as a Controller, his accounting practice, travelling, cruises, movies and people watching, but Paul was happiest spending time with his family. He loved driving around NY and NJ sharing his childhood haunts and memories. Car rides were filled with laughter, singing, the alphabet game, and of course, sisterly squabbles. Parsippany, NJ years were shared with the family’s next door neighbors and “second family” the Diehls : holidays; Thanksgiving cooking and baking at one house, eating at the other; Christmas stockings and Chanukah latkes; family vacations; pool parties and bbq’s; bat mitzvahs and confirmations; sleigh riding; chicken pox–nothing was too precious not to share. Although we never did build that tunnel between our 2 houses, it did seem like 1 big happy family.

If you asked Paul what his greatest achievement was, he would say it was his wife, children and grandchildren, who brought him pure joy. He loved sharing his beliefs and traditions with his children and grandchildren. While Sue, Trudy and Donna ventured out of San Diego at different times, Paul was able to spend time with them in San Francisco, Seattle, Paris and Los Angeles. He watched Sue’s children grow up during frequent trips to Seattle and their trips to San Diego. Trudy and her husband eventually settled in San Diego, allowing Paul to spend more time with Trudy’s children in his later years.

Paul is survived by his beautiful wife of 59 years, Arlene, 3 daughters, Sue (Bob), Trudy (Paul) and Donna (David), 5 grandchildren, Marissa, Jake, Erin, Julianna & Dylan and 3 “grand dogs,” Mathilda, Beatrice and Amelia. He has also left behind nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss him dearly.

Paul has touched so many people’s lives over the years and will be remembered as a loving caring man with a wonderful sense of humor. There is no easy way to end a tribute to such an amazing man. Paul will be in our hearts forever and we will always be guided by some of his Paulisms :

Does your father own the electric company?
Do you live in a barn?
Are you an animal (…when someone honks outside)?
That’s not finger food (…including french fries and pizza).
Order whatever you want as long as you eat it.
Balance your checkbook to the penny.
Am I running a nudist colony?
Tissue? I don’t even know you.
You go Hugo.
Finish what you start.
I don’t know it’s true until I hear it directly from the person.
How do you like your chicken? Omitted.
Where’s the receipt?
Pound the pavement.
If your friends were jumping off a bridge, would you jump too?
…and words heard often and until the day before Paul left us…I’m fine…

Donations may be made in honor of Paul to the American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org)

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