Paul Gambal

Paul was born May 2, 1959, in Washington, DC to Sergius and Alyce Gambal and was the second of four children. He attended St. Stephen’s School for much of his primary education and spent his last two years of high school at Trinity-Pawling School, graduating in 1978. He graduated from Kenyon College in 1982 with a B.A. in art history. In 1981 and 1982 he completed French language immersion programs at the Middlebury College School of French and La Sorbonne in Paris. He received his M.B.A. from The George Washington University in 1992.

A lifelong student of finance, Paul began his career at the National Bank of Washington, becoming the head trader of their brokerage services. In 1988 he co-founded the first of two brokerage and investment advisory firms. In 2006 he founded PG Capital Management, LLC where he was the investment advisor up until his death. He believed in the Graham and Dodd style of value investing and greatly enjoyed taking the pilgrimage to the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting in Omaha, NE.

Paul was a devoted husband and father. He met his wife Anne when he was 21, was reintroduced when he was 29, and on their second date, talked with her about getting married and raising a family. He was a generous, silly, and loving father who cheered on his children in all that they did.

Paul was a man of many talents and passions. While at Kenyon, he simultaneously played JV and Varsity lacrosse, studied art history (favoring Dutch art), and attended church every Sunday. Later in life, he served in volunteer leadership positions for many institutions, including some of his former schools, his children’s schools, and his church, Christ Church, Georgetown. He had boundless energy and was a lifelong athlete enjoying cycling, running, swimming, and rowing. When he wasn’t involved in a sport, he was chopping wood, cleaning cars, polishing light fixtures or “getting organized.”

In 2015, he took up shooting sporting clays and, by no exaggeration, it changed his life. Despite his cancer diagnosis and ultimate disability of having only his right eye, Paul dedicated hours to this sport, moving rapidly from beginner to Master Class in just two years, competing at the same level as professionals. This sport kept him positive, present, and focused. He loved his coaches and the community and even practiced on the Saturday prior to his death.

Paul is survived by his cherished wife of 34 years, Anne Murray Gambal, and two children, Elizabeth Griggs Gambal of Washington, DC and Nicholas Yale Gambal of New York, NY. He is also survived by his three siblings: Alex Gambal of Victor, ID; Krista Gambal of Stamford, CT; and Leah Gambal Alfageme (Santiago) of Westport, CT. He has four nieces and nephews and one grandnephew.

All who met Paul were enchanted by his positivity, friendliness, silliness, mental and physical exuberance, and genuine curiosity in learning more about the lives and interests of others. It has been said that Paul Gambal could talk to anyone about anything. He demonstrated to his family how to be faithful, brave, and positive despite adversity, how to treat all people with respect, and how to properly organize and clean a refrigerator.

Paul’s family would like to express their immense gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and researchers of Wills Eye Hospital and Jefferson Health who provided care that extended Paul’s life and allowed him to live to the fullest despite his disease.

A service is planned for mid-September. Please contact the family for details.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Paul Gambal may be made in support of Uveal Melanoma Research at Jefferson’s Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. Please donate online to: Jefferson.edu/SupportUvealMelanoma and select “Uveal Melanoma Research” for the designation. Then select the button next to where it says “make your gift a tribute” and write in Paul Gambal.

Checks can be made payable to “Jefferson.” Please note “MRIE – Uveal Research and in memory of Paul Gambal” in the memo line and mail to:

Jefferson

Office of Institutional Advancement

125 S 9th Street, Suite 600

Philadelphia, PA 19107