Paul N. Temple

1923 - 2016

Paul N. Temple Paul N. Temple died peacefully at home in San Rafael, California on November 29, 2016 at 1:31 pm surrounded by his loving wife Diane, daughters Paulina, Pamela, Lise, Robin and sons Thomas Temple, James and Thomas Brown, and granddaughter Rachele. He was 93 years old. Paul was born in Cincinnati, OH on March 19, 1923, the only child of Alice Marie White Temple and Paul Nathaniel Temple. He attended elementary schools in Des Moines, Seattle and Long Beach until settling in Denver where he graduated from East High. In 1940 he won the regional scholarship to Princeton University and graduated in 1944. He also completed Columbia Midshipman's School and served as an Ensign in the US Naval Reserve, 8th Fleet, in the Mediterranean off of Tunisia and Italy. After returning from WWII he married Margaret Karen Borgstrom and moved to Boston where he received a scholarship to Harvard Law School. He won the prestigious Ames Competition, graduating and moving in 1948 to California where he settled in Mill Valley because he had "always wanted to live in the San Francisco Bay Area." After passing the Bar he accepted a job offer from John Sutro at Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro in the City. Two years later he was asked to help open a branch of Pillsbury in Washington DC which returned him to the East Coast. Thus began what he often referred to as his "long and checkered career" which moved him from San Francisco to Washington DC to New York City with Celanese and Exxon Corporations. In 1961 he moved his family to Madrid, Spain, serving as President of ESSO affiliates and Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce. He also worked in Barcelona from 1965 to 1969, after which he returned to the United States where he joined geologist Lewis Weeks as President of Weeks Petroleum in Connecticut. In the early 70's he returned to Washington DC and opened offices in Rosslyn, VA to manage his own investments and entrepreneurial endeavors in oil and gas exploration, gold mining, environmental remediation, agriculture and various other fields. In 1995 he moved back to Marin County, CA where his career had begun in 1948. He continued going into his office every weekday until he was 91 years old. Paul had a long and distinguished career with an international reputation for his brilliance, skill and integrity. However, his listing in many Who's Who publications says little to reveal the character and depth of this man. That is witnessed more by his interpersonal relationships with all persons and extraordinary acts of kindness and generosity. Senator Claiborne Pell once introduced him to a group of Senators on Capitol Hill as "the most truly good man I know." He was very active in The International Foundation which supports the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC as well as in other countries around the world. In both NYC and Washington DC he served on Boards of Directors of organizations that promote interfaith understanding and religious tolerance. He was a cofounder, and for seventeen years, Chairman of the Board of The Institute of Noetic Sciences which sponsors and conducts groundbreaking research on extraordinary human capacities and the central role of Consciousness in our lives. In 1989 he cofounded with his wife the "Temple Awards for Creative Altruism." These awards are given to unsung heroes who exemplify unselfish service motivated by love. Paul Temple came from humble beginnings; he was motivated to work hard and excel. He was a true self-made man, following the "American Dream." He was also deeply generous by nature. To establish a legacy of gratitude and philanthropy for his family he created and endowed a non-profit family foundation. Family members continue to serve on its Board of Directors. More than a few have remarked that Paul N. Temple was "larger than life." His was indeed a most remarkable journey, filled with years of travel all over the globe, a robust business career and the good fortune to be blessed with a wonderful family and friends from all countries and walks of life. To people everywhere he was consistently the same gentle, kind, good-natured, trusting and optimistic person, always ready to share a fine glass of wine and interesting stories with friends. He was also an eager competitor on the tennis court or golf course (2 holes in one) and particularly enjoyed long distance swimming and snorkeling through caves and grottos along the Andalusian coast where he built a family home in Spain over fifty years ago. He even dared to go fire-walking a couple times, after which he recommended it enthusiastically to everyone. Mind over matter! But of all of his many achievements and pleasures, that which brought him the greatest happiness was the large beloved family he was the Patriarch of. For an only child to find himself surrounded by so many children, grandchildren, and Rees family brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews brought him great joy. When he closed his eyes on November 29, 2016 he knew he was not alone. Cloaked in his strong faith in Jesus Christ he returned to his heavenly Home where everyone he has ever loved was waiting. It was quite a homecoming!!! Paul is survived by his wife of 35 years, Diane Elizabeth Rees and their daughter Paulina Diane Marie Temple and her fiancé Steven Yampolsky, his children by Margaret Karen Borgstrom (d. 1/26/81): Pamela (and Barry) Abell of Lakewood, PA, Lise (and Steven) Greenberg of Pawley's Island, S.C., Robin (and Michael Moore) of Boulder, CO, Thomas (and Nancy) Temple of Clifton, VA and his 2 stepsons (from Diane) James (and Lori) Brown of Walnut Creek, CA, and Thomas (and Monique) Brown of Newcastle, CA. He is predeceased by his son Robert "Bobby" Temple. He also leaves behind 19 grandchildren: Marc Abell, Rebecca Wagner, Adam and Rachele Greenberg, Jenica Schevene, Torin Kline, Ursula Bowling, Joshua and Paul Temple, Jacob, Grace, Kelsey, Will and Ava Brown and Sophia, Michelle, Valerie, Sasha and Heather Brown, and 12 great-grandchildren: Ashley, Alexa, Tyler, Caroline, Alden, C.J., Nikoya, Kalia, Ephraim, Joy, Lydia, Miriam and one great-great-granddaughter, Brylee. He was predeceased by his grandson Justin Kline. The family thanks Hospice of Marin, the Neptune Society, all the doctors and nurses at Kaiser Hospital in Terra Linda, and his 2 devoted assistants in his office, Jo and Josie, for their enduring loyalty and support. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in San Rafael, the Rev. Christopher Martin presiding, on Saturday 2/4/17 at 11:00 AM.