Paul M. Ingersoll

Paul M. Ingersoll 83, of Bryn Mawr, beloved husband of "Mimi" (Eleanor) for 60 years, died of respiratory failure on 1/2/2012 at Kindred Hospital. Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Mr. Ingersoll attended The Episcopal Academy, graduating from St. Paul's School Concord, N.H. On graduating from Princeton University in June 1950, he was called to active duty as a 2nd Lt. with the 108th Field Artillery Bn. 28th Infantry Division during the Korean War serving at Camp Atterbury, Indiana and then in Germany. Following the service, Mr. Ingersoll joined the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. as an agent before becoming assistant to the president. He and H. Leonard Brown then co-founded Canpak, Inc., a plastic and metal containe distributor for the Continental Can Co.. In 1963, he joined the Provident National Bank as an Assistant Vice President in a commercial lending unit, served in the Trust Department, then as a Senior Vice President, he had responsibility for the bank's branch offices. He became President in 1974, serving in that capacity until 1979. Leaving the bank that year, he started a 30 plus year career with the international auction house Christie's by opening their Philadelphia office, their first regional office in North America . Mr. Ingersoll was a director on the boards of PNC Corp, Colonial Penn Insurance Co., the Haverford Trust Company, Provident National Bank, Chairman of The Mutual Assurance Co., and President of Beaver Management Co. a metallurgical coal company in Beckley, West Virginia. He also served as trustee of The Children's Aid Society of Philadelphia, The Library Company of Philadelphia, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Atwater Kent Museum, the William Penn Foundation, and The Philadelphia Museum Of Art. While a trustee of the Art Museum, he, with others, founded the Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and with Mrs. Walter Annenberg, co-founded the Museum's Associates group in1970 . He was also an eighteen year Trustee of Drexel University which was founded by his great grandfather Anthony J. Drexel. A trustee of the Bryn Mawr Hospital for 20 years, he chaired the hospital's Emergency Department expansion campaign in1995 and was also active in the hospital's Emergency Department campaign in 2006 . An avid toy collector along with Mimi, Paul was a member of the Antique Toy Collectors of America and together they hosted antique toy visits to their collection. He was also a member of the Merion Cricket Club, the State in Schuylkill, (the "Fish House") and The Rabbit. Mr.Ingersoll was also a founding member of a book club which celebrated it's 50th anniversary this year. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters: Lea Sylvestro (David Sylvestro) of Easton, CT., Rita Ingersoll of Berwyn and Francie Ingersoll-Taylor (Matthew Taylor) of Newtown Square, and four grandchildren, Casey and Tucker Sylvestro, Jared Seltzer and Campbell Taylor. Also a brother David S.J. Smith of Radnor and three sisters: Joan Coale And Nancy Davenport of Philadelphia and Lalla deRham of Sarasota, Florida. He was predeceased by his brother Henry. Paul was known for his great sense of humor, kindness and genuine interest in others, as well as his strong love of family and friends. He had nickname for everyone, and his own was "The Nose." A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14th at 11am at the Church of the Redeemer, Pennswood and New Gulph Roads, Bryn Mawr. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bryn Mawr Hospital, 130 S., Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010.