Paul David Sagan

Paul David Sagan, 66, a gifted communicator, passed away on November 10, 2024, in Willits, California, after a long illness.

His professional career was marked by a passion for storytelling and a commitment to making cultural experiences accessible to all.

Paul was born in Kanab, Utah when his father, Marc Sagan, worked as a ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. He moved east with his family - his mother Lois Jean Updike Kelbaugh Sagan and his sister Hatsy - in 1960 to follow his father's career in the NPS. The Sagans arrived in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1963 where Paul attended Aldie Elementary School, Loudoun Country Day School and then graduated from Loudoun County High School with the class of 1976.

Paul was active in both school and community theatre from an early age, directing plays and musicals for the Waterford (VA) Players before he left high school.

After earning a B.A. in English from the College of William and Mary and studying theater arts at Webster College Conservatory, Sagan began his writing career as a medical editor at the University of California, San Francisco, where he honed his skills.

Sagan's transition to freelance writing led him to museum audio production. His work with Antenna Audio brought him to the forefront, where he created award-winning audio tours for renowned institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the National Park Service, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Sagan was a dedicated choral singer and a passionate lover of live theater. He actively participated in theater productions as a director, producer, and performer, sharing his love for the stage with audiences.

Paul is survived by his beloved husband, Aarne Bielefeldt as well as by his sister Harriet (Hatsy) Sagan Cutshall and his niece and nephew, Katherine (Kati) Cutshall and Alexander (Alex) Cutshall.

A private memorial service is planned for Spring 2025 in Willits, CA.

Memorial contributions may be made to Theatre Rhinoceros, San Francisco.

external link: https://www.therhino.org/donate-page Paul David Sagan