Paul Oberbeck

OBERBECK
Paul Armin, of Bethlehem, PA, a Wall Street investment banker and business owner, died from natural causes on Saturday, August 25th, at the age of 78. Paul was born in Pasadena, CA on March 5, 1934 and grew up in St. Louis, MO. He graduated from Brown University on a Navy ROTC scholarship and became a Naval Aviator, piloting the Douglas F4D Skyray, the first fighter/interceptor jet that could exceed Mach 1 in level flight. He then attended Harvard Business School, class of 1961, while also serving in the Marine Corps Reserves. He settled with his family in Englewood, NJ, working for Hallgarten & Co., a Wall Street investment bank, where he became a Partner specializing in Mergers & Acquisitions. He also made private equity investments at CitiCorp Venture Capital in the early 1970's.
Paul liked deal-making, purchasing numerous companies throughout his career, including National Magnetics Group, Inc., a manufacturing company based in Newark, NJ and later Bethlehem, PA, which he managed until his retirement in 2008 and which is owned by his family. He lived in Palo Alto, CA from 1991-1999 after purchasing CMI Technology, Inc. in Santa Clara, CA.
Paul enjoyed racquet sports, skiing, travelling, opera and singing. He belonged to Presbyterian churches in Englewood, NJ, Menlo Park, CA and Bethlehem, PA. He participated in Bible study Fellowship and was an instructor as well.
Paul was a devoted father and grandfather to his five children and six grandsons. He is survived by his wife Kathleen Pfeiffer, former wife Pamela Root, brother Stephen, children Frances, Christian, Paul, Andrea and Arthur, their mother and his former wife Cecil Woodbridge Oberbeck and grandchildren Christian, John Eric, Conrad, August, John and Paul Cooper.
Visitation will be Sunday, September 2, from 3:30-5 PM at the Heron Funeral Home at 408 Center at Market St. in Bethlehem. Burial will be private at Nisky Hill Cemetery in Bethlehem on Monday, September 3. A memorial service will follow at The First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, NJ at 1 PM.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem or Special Olympics of New Jersey.