Paul F. Schlaikjer

Paul F. Schlaikjer

San Luis obispo, CA - Paul F. Schlaikjer died aged 91 on January fifth 2024, after a short stay in hospital.

Paul was an engaging raconteur. If he were telling the story of his life he would begin (in 1932) with his childhood in Weston Massachusetts with his stern father Oscar, his artistic mother Georgia, his older brother Jay (the entrepreneur) and younger brother Carl (the musician and scientist). Paul would show you the shiny scar on his shin and tell how he took a forbidden axe to the far woods and bounced it off a sapling. He would tell of his shame at missing a shot at a deer in front of his father, who in addition to being a lawyer was a dedicated hunter and woodsman. But then would come the punchline: Oscar shot the gun at the barn door and no hole appeared. He had put too much gunpowder in the bullets, which simply disintegrated. With delight undiminished by repetition, Paul would tell the stories of the Last Blueberry Muffin, the Acetylene Explosion, the Rotting Ham, and the Little Green Ball. Not to mention his exploits with lifelong friend Tad (Ralph) Powell, such as the Great Chicken Coop Caper and the Terrifying Water Tower Climb.

Exeter (class of 1950) and Harvard (AB Economics, 1954; HBS AMP 1970) were a large part of Paul's story and he stayed in touch with classmates until the end of his life. He rowed crew and sang in Glee Club. Paul would love to tell you how one boy at Exeter evaded the alcohol sniff test by squeezing his mouth full of toothpaste. A very kind man, Paul would sorrowfully recount how a Harvard classmate threw blowtorch-heated pennies to carollers in the snow. But his best school story was briefly dancing with lavender-eyed Elizabeth Taylor at Exeter. Could it possibly be true?

All Paul stories lead to fish, or even whales. Paul married Nantucketer Elise Pitkin, who supported him at Harvard Law School (LLB 1957). He and Tad surf cast for bluefish happily ever after - after one of Elise's beaus tried to kill Paul by pulling him across high waves on water skis (exaggeration is a cherished family trait).

Paul worked briefly as a lawyer in Boston (stories about genius colleagues). Then he made a big life decision to move to Worcester, accepting a job at Norton company where he eventually managed all of European operations (who can forget the Strapasada race in Italy?). He and Elise started the stories of daughter Laura (born 1958, m. Bob DePalma) and son Erich (induced in the last days of 1959 for the tax deduction, m. Patricia McIntyre). They moved to Princeton Massachusetts so that Elise could garden and raise chickens and sheep and goats and pigs. Paul spent as much time as possible on his tractor and in the woods with a chainsaw, cutting trails and storing firewood. Infuriatingly, he was immune to poison ivy.

Also in Princeton is his beloved pond, once a swamp, but scraped down to granite bedrock and refilled by its spring. Grandchildren Ross, Griffin, Claire, Dylan, and Isaac spent happy summers on its "beach", swimming and catching sunfish. Nights at the pond are a good setting for "The Golden Arm" and other ghost stories.

Elise moved on to Michigan and Paul married his second wife Susan Fenigsohn, who brought along two teenage children David and Gabe. They soon came to adore him as much as his first two children did. Yes, dad, please tell us again how we spectacularly damaged your cars. How silly to think that a kayak could fit in the back!

Paul and Susan were devoted to each other and their life in Princeton. Eventually the snow and ice became too much and they moved to California, leaving behind the beloved tractor and an amazing collection of all known grouting devices.

Another word for happiness was San Luis Obispo, with its warm weather, many new friends, and tacos. When health problems laid Paul and Susan low, heroic help was provided by their family, neighbors, and caregivers. Paul has left Susan behind for now - she is with David and his wife Helen (b. Selley) in Seattle. We will all love Paul forever.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to Paul's longtime passion, the Princeton Land Trust:

https://www.princetonlandtrust.us/contact-us