We first met Jane and Paul when he came to Towson State. I had been named to the Board of Visitors and Jim Fisher invited me to play in a lunchtime pickup basketball game at Burdick Hall.   Under pickup game rules winners stayed on.  Fisher and I were on Paul’s team, along with another All-American Buzz Shaw.  We held the court until we had to go back to our jobs.  I thought we had been lucky to have two ringers on our team. Looking back on it perhaps Fisher had fixed the teams, he hated to lose.
Emily and I met Jane at one of Mary Belle Grempler’s parties.  Jane, as usual, was the darling of the party with Paul, the taciturn college professor.  We were fast friends from the beginning.  And while Paul’s career took them to colleges all over the country, we always managed to keep in touch.  Finally, while you can take the boy out of the mountains, you can’t take the mountains out of the boy, they returned to their beloved Colorado.
How nice it would be if, while they were alive, we could have told our good friends all of the wonderful things about them face to face, instead of waiting until they pass and cannot hear them.  I’m sure that last fall many of you felt there was a disturbance in the force….and then…. Two of its most wonderful voices fell silent…. irrepressible Jane and incomparable Paul Wisdom.  Our memories of you still fill our hearts.
Emily and Bob DiCicco

I still cannot believe Paul and Jane are gone. They were such a mainstay in our lives, and our kids' lives. I miss them every day and as I look around I see things they have given us over the years and remember them. Paul and his great BIG hugs and Jane's infectious laugh and smile. They left the world a better place, in the form of their grandkids.

That is such an amazing poem, Lonn, so like Paul!

I love this photo. They were so happy. I remember their home here on the mountain. It was my favorite. Diane and I visited them here when she was 1&1/2. She helped Jane feed all the deer every day. And she loved all the little chipmunks that Morrie would chase. Our Grandmother Beryle came with her sister Great Aunt Alice to see us. And Beryle played the piano. It was the last time I saw her. Maybe you found the video I made and gave to them of that trip. We also camped at Mt Zerkel Wilderness.

Dad's stolen textbook, used in universities across the country

James Fisher, Jane & Paul Wisdom; la Hacienda del Sol, Melbourne, FL; 1992

Yes!  Remember it well.  Hope Sylar is still playing.  Would have loved to hear your father jam!  Jane told me of all the instruments Paul could play.

I am janes niece and I loved Paul dearly. He was always so nice and sweet to me when I visited him and aunt Jane. I am so glad that I got the opportunity to see him and my aunt a little over a year ago and he was just as sweet and loving to my kids as he was to me. You will be missed so much.

Thank you Buzz and Mary Ann! It was great talking to you the other day, Buzz. Don't know if you noticed or not, but in Dad's eulogy I shared the story that you shared with me re: my ol' man letting the air out of tires (in the name of ""doing the right thing, of course"").

Thank you for your kind words. As you know Dad loved to build things and he was also a musician. This appears to be passed down and if you recall my son, Skylar built an acoustic guitar (from a kit) with Greg's mentorship. Such a valuable experience for him!

Ken, thank you for sharing this. It made me cry. I don't know how many people knew that side of Dad, but I did. While living in Nashville, I had my son enrolled at a burgeoning Waldorf school initiative. Word got out that my father was a big fundraiser and it wasn't long before I was running (creating really) the school's Development & Outreach program. Dad was my mentor. He told me specifically what to do and I did exactly what I was mentored to do. He gave me so much invaluable coaching (and quite a bit about being an effective board member). Ken, if I recall correctly, you are an accomplished photographer. Dad and Jane always spoke so highly of you, and I remember seeing so many of your beautiful photographs.

Among my clearest, and after reflection, most precious memory of Paul comes from a time shortly after he promoted me to Alumni Director at Colorado State.  I had been a bit too confident in my first meeting of the board of directors, which Paul attended. I thought it went well. Little did I know...  

The following Monday, his assistant called me to his office ""now"", during which, Paul shared his observations of my performance at the meeting, which differed significantly from mine.  Dramatically, actually.  180 degrees. 

Her performed on me what he later called, ""taking you down to zero, and building you back up.""  I didn't much like the ""zero"" part, but he took the time to get through to me.   Personally, and professionally.  He was so incredibly mindful and conscious about the building up process. He took the time to bring out the best, and leave the rest behind. With his help, I grew toward director he expected me to be--the one he knew was in there somewhere.  And a better person.  In later years we joked about that process, but I will always remember that we need to see potential in others, especially when the don't see it yet.  

Over the 40+ years since then, I credit whatever success I've had to Paul's 
intervention, encouragement and mentoring.     

Godspeed, old friend.   

Ken Williams

We've been neighbors of Paul & Jane for 10 years.  What a beautifully written tribute to a wonderful man... so much I didnt know about him!  I called him my Gentle Giant.  He loved Jane & all his kids and grandchildren so much, and his face lit up when talking about you all.  
   Hugging your hearts, and prayers for peace.
Janet' & Greg

Aspen Tree Whispers
(by Lonn Anthony for Paul Wisdom in 2012)


The leaves on the Aspen tree are whispering to me-
Remember the little boy:
A wooden match, a clothespin gun
The fire from a spark had now begun
He played the trumpet till it hurt his lips
His first small taste of accomplishments
Remember the growing teen:
An eagle scout with badges earned
Horseback in the Rockies, he rode and learned
He cleared the snow to shoot that fall
Cut holes in gloves to spin the ball

The leaves on the Aspen tree are whispering to me-
Remember the tall young man:
The shooting Center had a drive
An Ivy League and chance to shine
The cards, the booze, and fraternity
And looks from girls so wild and free
Remember the working dad:
Insurance sales, the dreaded phone
All the will it took to build a home
The taxi job and grad degree
His work to write his history

The leaves on the Aspen tree are whispering to me-
Remember the man for change:
He called the system rigged and wrong
And wrote to show the case was strong
Convinced true power lies inside
Then met the love that changed his life
Remember the Big V.P:
Retreats to plan the new campaign
Cocktails, awards, dinners, and games
Some tennis, golf and sailing fun
And laughs with friends when work was done

The leaves on the Aspen tree are whispering to me-
Remember the loyal one:
He hired a lawyer to lend a hand
Then testified up on the stand
His father finally showed his pride
He saw how hard his son had tried
Remember the new Grandpa:
The chance to share a mountain stream
When trout would jump, the kids would beam
His sparkling eyes to see them grow
So clear and fast the water flows

We leaf and leaf and leaf
Then fall and fall and fall
Between somehow we grasp
The wind reveals it all
We fly and fly and fly
The story never ends
We tell it then we fall
To leaf again and again

The leaves on the Aspen tree are whispering to me-
Remember the open book:
The pages turn with winter wind
Let the fire burn and the stories spin
There’s kindness and softness in reflection
With nothing forgotten, all is forgiven.

Paul and Jane, two great people; two great friends; two people good for each other. Many good times, lots of laughs, even serious times were rewarding. 
Buzz and Mary Ann Shaw

OBITUARY

Paul Eugene Wisdom

5 July, 1932 – 10 September, 2017

Allnutt Funeral & Cremation - Macy

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