Dr. Paul Albert Chew

04/22/1925 - 07/12/2004

Dr. Paul Albert Chew, Ph.D., formerly of Greensburg, was born in Norristown, April 22, 1925, a son of the late William and Gertrude Hollis Chew. He died Monday, July 12, 2004, at UPMC Montefiore, Oakland. Dr. Chew dropped out of Mt. Oliver High School to enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Honorably discharged, he re-enlisted during the Korean conflict to serve again as a medical technician. Upon his second discharge, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Pittsburgh in 1950, followed by his Master of Arts degree in the History of Art in 1952. In 1957, he became one of the first Americans to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Fine Arts from the University of Manchester, Manchester, England. From 1952 to 1953, he was Assistant to the Director of the Museum of Art, Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh. He served as Executive Assistant to the Director of Circulating Exhibitions, Museum of Modern Art, New York, N.Y., from 1953-54. From 1954-55, he was Instructor and Director of Exhibitions at Washington University, St. Louis. In 1957, he became the Founding Director and Curator of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Under his stewardship, the Museum became an internationally known center of scholarship and art appreciation. In 1993, Dr. Chew accepted the position of Director Emeritus after 36 years of service. Especially dear to Dr. Chew's heart was his role as a teacher. From 1961-63, he was Instructor of Art History, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He taught at Seton Hill College in 1965 and 1998 and at St. Vincent College in 1966. A member of the original five-member faculty of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, he was Instructor of Art History from 1963 to 2003. Over the course of 40 years, Dr. Chew transported thousands of students to a larger world of beauty and excitement. He was also Curator of Exhibitions at the Governor's Residence, Harrisburg, from 1979 to 2002. Among his many honors are: Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from St. Vincent College in 1981; Forbes Medal presented by the Fort Pitt Museum Associates Inc. in association with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission of Pittsburgh in 1983; Honorary Doctor of Letters from Seton Hill College in 1984; Distinguished Graduate Medallion presented by Chancellor Wesley Posvar of the University of Pittsburgh in 1984; Gold Medal for Distinguished Service as Director and Scholar, Westmoreland Society, Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg in 1990; and Distinguished Arts and Community Leadership Award from the Greensburg Area Cultural Council in 1998. He was the author of more than 20 published works. Among his professional associations: He was a member of the American Association of Museums; The College Art Association of New York, N.Y.; The National Trust for Historic Preservation of Washington, D.C.; and the Antique Toy Collectors of America of Saylorsburg, Pa. The civic organizations to which he belonged included: Thomas Lynch Lecture Fund Selection Committee at Seton Hill College; Threshold of the 21st Century at St. Vincent College; Greensburg Area Cultural Council; Greater Pittsburgh Museum Council; Friends of Art for Pittsburgh Public Schools; Governor's Residence Preservation Committee of Harrisburg; Western Pennsylvania Historical Society of Pittsburgh; Allegheny Historical Preservation Society of Pittsburgh; and the Johnstown Flood Museum of Johnstown. He was a former member of the Rotary Club of Greensburg and in 1991 was recognized by the Rotary Foundation as a Paul Harris Fellow. Dr. Paul Chew is survived by his legacy and his Jack Russell terrier, Maude. As a memorial, should friends desire, memorials may be placed with the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Upward to the Light Project, 1150 Mt. Pleasant Road, Greensburg. There was no public visitation. BARNHART FUNERAL HOME, Greensburg, was in charge of arrangements.