Obituary for Paul A Hummer

Paul Arthur Hummer, 90, died on January 3rd, 2021 in San Jose, California of natural causes.

Paul was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Paul and Olga Hummer. In 1952, he graduated from Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania with a BS in mechanical engineering. In 1958, he earned a MA in City Planning from University of Pennsylvania. His post-graduate education included the London School of Economics and University of Stockholm, Sweden between 1959 and 1961. In Sweden, he studied the relationship between social welfare planning and city planning. Paul joined the Navy in 1953 and the Naval Reserve in 1954. He served several years of active duty, achieved the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade and was honorably discharged in 1963.

In 1966, Paul married Karita Miraglia in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They had a loving, devoted and lasting marriage of nearly 55 years. Sadly, he and his wife both passed away within weeks of one another.

In the mid-1970s, Paul and Karita moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Chicago, Illinois. In 1976, Paul was the project manager at the Field Museum for the exhibit, "Man in His Environment." In 1977, he was on the Chicago Fine Arts Council.  He also co-authored a book with Victor J. Danilov, A Survey of Arts and Cultural Activities in Chicago (1977). Additionally, prior to moving to California, Paul was the executive director of the Arts Commission in Indianapolis, Indiana for a period of time. In 1988, Paul and Karita moved to San Jose, California where Paul was mainly involved in various online businesses including solar panels, Herbalife and real estate.

Paul was kind, fair and thoughtful. He was appreciative of simple pleasures and had a knack for writing wonderful thank-you notes. As a young man, Paul traveled in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. His travels made a lasting impression on him, from his aesthetics to politics. Although Paul often worked behind the scenes, he remained deeply committed to liberal causes throughout his life with an emphasis on political and environmental affairs.

Paul was preceded in death by his brothers Dwight D. Hummer and Phillip L. Hummer and his niece, Elizabeth Hummer. He is survived by his nephews Paul M. Hummer and Philip Hummer and his nieces Alice Hummer, Anne Hummer and Jane Hummer.

A burial for Paul (and Karita) will be held on Saturday, April 24th at 1 PM at Penn Forest Natural Burial Park, 121 Colorado St., Verona, PA 15147.