Paul ASH

ASH, Paul, 81 of Tucson died June 24, 2012 in Encinitas, CA. Paul was a real estate executive, world-class athlete and Tucson community leader. He was born in New York City on November 12, 1930 to Irving and Clara Ashkenas. He left high school at age 16 to enlist in the US Army as an under-age volunteer, ultimately serving as a Military Police Officer. In 1948, Paul moved to Tucson to pursue a Bachelors Degree at the University of Arizona and continue his service in the US Army Reserves, from which he was Honorably Discharged in 1960 as a First Lieutenant. As a Wildcat, Paul embarked upon a successful athletic career in weightlifting. He competed at an international level until 1965, won two U.S. national titles in the middle heavyweight division and held the American Press record for the 225 lb. weight class. Paul won two gold medals at the 1957 and 1961 Maccabiah Games in Israel and later served as the U.S. National Team Coach at the 1977 and 1981 games. Paul was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and also enjoyed bowling, tennis and golf with an equally fierce passion. His life-long recreation, however, was playing poker. Paul started his business career as a vacuum cleaner salesman for Sears and Roebuck. Later, he joined Gough Industries as the appliance manufacturer's representative for Southern Arizona. In 1965, Paul received a start in the real estate business from Hans Voit and later formed a real estate development and property management firm in Tucson. For nearly 50 years, the company grew to employ more than 250 people, including his son, Bruce and grandson, Michael. The business, now known as Paul Ash Management Company, has developed and operates multi-family residential and commercial retail properties in Arizona and across the nation. Paul dedicated years to his community through leadership of philanthropic causes to aid young athletes and the promotion of the arts. He is credited with leading the push to build the Tucson Jewish Community Center (TJCC). He is a former president of the TJCC and member of many other community boards. Paul was also an original founder of one of the first political action committees created in support of Israel --The Desert Caucus. Paul married Luana Fay Gagliardi in June 1951 and they enjoyed 37 years of marriage before her passing in 1988. Paul is survived by his three children, Bruce Ash (Jane) of Tucson, Jacqueline Hungate (Bruce) of Tucson and Shellie Harrison of Calabasas, CA (Kenneth), his six grandchildren, Matthew and Michael Ash, Ryan (Gabriella) and Aaron (Kelly) Hungate, Stephanie Golditch (Scott) and Daniel Harrison and three great- grandchildren, Lucas, Nathan and Kayla. Paul married Bridget Carnell in 2004 and she survives her husband; stepsons, Jeff Carnell of CA and Greg Carnell of NC. Services, Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 10:00 a.m., Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E. Fifth St., with Rabbi Arthur R. Oleisky and Rabbi Yossie Shemtov officiating. Interment Congregation Anshei Israel Section of Evergreen Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to the Tucson Jewish Community Center (www.TucsonJCC.org) and to The US Sports for Israel Committee (www.MaccabiUSA.com) in honor of Paul Ash. Arrangements by EVERGREEN MORTUARY & CEMETERY, www.evergreenmortuary-cemetery.com