Paul M. Haas

Paul M. Haas passed away peacefully on Monday, March 20, 2023, at Torrey Pines Senior Living in San Diego, Ca. He and his wife, Margie Smith-Haas of Del Mar, CA. had celebrated their 42nd anniversary on June 28, 2022. Born in Snover, Michigan, on April 17, 1936, he was the son of the late Emanuel and Rhoda Wolgemuth Haas.

Paul received a BS in Psychology at San Diego State University after attending Upland College and then served in the Army doing research. He was a former electrical engineer and inventor of the digital thermometer for industrial use as well as digital voltmeter. He had many patented designs. Paul and his partners founded Doric Scientific that later sold to Emerson Electric. He also patented his DS-100 Digital Scales and Optical Alignment system. His partners commented that inventor Paul truly was a genius.

Paul raced professionally in SCCA, IMSA and ACRL in the USA, with a few WEC races in England and Italy. He holds the E-Production track lap record at Riverside Int’l Raceway. Paul’s aerodynamic race car designs were highly respected and were instrumental to the success of his wife winning the 1994 ACRL Driver Championship and their Team Championship . Paul and Margie founded TFA Car Company in 1977, exporting their stuffed car pillows worldwide. In 1978, he was proud of founding the first Drivers Manuel/School for San Diego Region Porsche Club (50 year member) and PCA Zone 8. He was also a 20 year member of the West Australia Porsche Club while enjoying time at their home “Downunder”. Paul also served on the Board of Directors for the American City Racing League. He always enjoyed driving their collection of Porsches. Paul was from a large family and truly enjoyed their Haas family reunions.

He is survived by his wife, Margie Smith-Haas and sisters, Rhoda W. Stutzman, Darlene K. Wells and brothers, R. Jay Haas and J. Lynn Haas. Paul was the 5th of nine siblings, proceeded in death by sister Lois H. Meily and brothers Wilmer E. Haas, J. Eugene Haas, and D. Ray Haas.

A “Celebration of Paul’s Life” will be held on a future date to be announced.