Paul Kaufman

Rear Admiral Paul Kaufman was born in Bay Shore, NY on March 24, 1923. He attended New York University (’43) on an academic scholarship, and later earned his medical degree from George Washington University (’47). He interned at D.C. General and spent two years in pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital in Washington, DC. He received a direct commission into the Navy in 1950, and served several tours aboard the USS W.J. Gordon operating in Korean waters. He was released from active duty in 1952 and went into private practice in Arlington, Va. Returning to active duty in 1959, he was Chief of Pediatrics at the Washington Naval Dispensary.

Following completion of the Command and Staff program at the Naval War College in 1962, he was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief Pacific and Commander US Pacific Fleet to be the action officer in charge of the US military medical buildup for the Vietnam War.

For his contributions and service throughout SE Asia, Dr. Kaufman earned the Joint Service Commendation medal as Deputy Surgeon General to both CinCPac and CinCPac Fleet, and the Navy Commendation medal as Director of BUMED’s (Bureau of Medicine and Surgery) Planning Division.

In July 1972, he became the first CO (Commanding Officer) of the Navy Regional Medical Center and Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. and was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1973. He returned to Washington, D.C. as Assistant Chief for Planning and Logistics; Special Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and personal physician to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). In 1977, as Deputy Surgeon General, he retired from active duty after 34 years of military service. He is the namesake of Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s “Admiral Paul Kaufman Award” which is given annually to honor a local physician or health care professional who delivers “Outstanding Community Service.”

In 1978, Kaufman became Assistant Vice President, Science and Technology , Pharma, Washington D.C., where he remained until retiring in 1998.

Dr. Kaufman was a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of numerous medical associations and societies. His military decorations include, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Navy Commendation Medal, Vietnam Combat Action Ribbon, Korean War, Navy Achievement Medal and the World War II Ribbon.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maxine; son Barry W. Kaufman and his wife Kathy, of Mandarin, Fl. and their children Jessica and Dan; son Michael J. Kaufman of Jacksonville; son Bruce E. Kaufman and his wife Sara of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl., their children Kali and Anna; sister Delores Menchell of Queens, NY.

Viewing will be Thursday, March 31 from 6:00-8:00pm at Hardage-Giddons Funeral Home, 127 Blanding Blvd. Orange Park, Fl. Funeral services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 7190 Hwy 17 South, Fleming Island at 10 am on Friday, April 1. The family will receive friends in a reception following funeral services in Sullivan Hall. Rear Admiral Kaufman will be laid to rest at Jacksonville National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Kaufman’s name may be made to:

Community Hospice

Attention: Foundation

4266 Sunbeam Rd.

Jacksonville, Florida 32257