This site is a tribute to Paul Sontag, who was born in International Falls, MN on September 26, 1937. He is much loved and will always be remembered. Paul Oscar Sontag passed away on 27 July 2019 in New York City after 3 years with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Paul, or ‘Papa’ to us, was a sweet, generous, caring, intelligent, creative, bread-baking, bird-watching, math-obsessed, pottery-loving, wine-drinking, avid walker, dog lover, Law & Order and West Wing enthusiast, vegan (‘except when in Italy’) classical music expert. And an incredible father, brother, and uncle.Above all else, he was kind. Since his passing, we have discovered that he donated to no less than a dozen charities a month.

He believed in fighting for the little guy and wanted to make the world a better place. And we know that he was successful. Because his kindness lives on in his children, his brother and sister-in-law, his nieces and nephews, in their spouses and their children, his son-in-law, step-grandchildren, in his friends, his colleagues, in friends of his children, in his neighbors, and in the doctors and nurses that helped us care and love for him until the end.We would not be the people we are today without his love, support and encouragement.

As high-schoolers, we both had separate conversations with him on the topic of not attending university, a presumably absurd proposal to make to a former academic. Yet his response was accepting: if we decided that university wasn’t for us and instead became beach bums or rock climbers, then he would still love and support us so long as we were happy. Those conversations are forever etched in our brains - that no matter what we did he would be proud.

The loss of our amazing Papa will forever change our lives. He has left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled. But to hear the kind messages pouring in and memories being shared gives us hope that his spirit will live on in all of us. Please do not let your memories of him fade. Please share them with us: on this website, through calls, emails, letters. Honor him in the every day by being kind.

We would appreciate cards and/ or flowers sent to either Mayling or Nick (please contact us if you need our addresses). Donations to the The Nature Conservancy would be appreciated which we will make in loving memory of Paul, who was a lifelong champion of conserving natural spaces. Donations can be made via this memorial website.