Paul Reynolds Obituary

Paul was a dear friend of my father, and after I lost him, Paul became a dear friend to me. His deep voice and slow, wise, deliberate way of speaking gave him an almost otherworldly presence, and he always seemed to radiate intelligence and kindness.

I will never forget spending countless mornings and afternoons trotting after Paul on the farm as he taught me how to milk cows, and laughed that loud wonderful laugh at my fierce battle for dominance over the baby goats, churning butter with Julia in the kitchen and stealing slices of it from the star-shaped molds once it was finished. I have memories as far back as 5 or 6 of snuggling under a quilt and listening to her read stories, or sitting by a campfire, coming to terms with my mixed feelings about my first taste of rabbit. My father was sometimes mercurial and a little difficult, and but Paul brought out the most gentle, peaceful parts of him, and he never had a single ill word for him.

I remember lying on Paul´s giant German Shepard (Sheba?) on the floor in his apartment in Sacramento, marveling at how Paul´s ponytail was always messy, and wondering what all the strange electronic boxes were lying around. (They were computers.) Being very offended that he wouldn´t let me hold the dog´s leash, doubting his very true warning that she would drag me off my feet. (She would NEVER! We were best friends!)

But what I´ll truly never forget about Paul was how he reached out and offered his support, to both me and my Auntie, when I lost my Dad in 2017. He knew a side of my Dad that he didn´t show to many people, and Paul understood the gravity of the loss for us. He stayed in touch, visited with my auntie until she passed as well, and offered to help me pay to digitize my fathers music, something I didn´t take him up on, but was deeply touched by the offer.

I have a few short recordings of Paul telling stories about my Dad, and we had just connected to make tentative plans to catch up at lunch at his favorite Thai place in Auburn when another friend of my fathers contacted me about his unexpected passing. There were so many more conversations I hoped to have with him.

My deepest condolences to his family and everyone else that has felt the tremendous loss of this exceptional man.