Paul Lawrence Leffler

Paul Lawrence Leffler, age 76, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, surrounded by family and friends and carried onward by the music that he loved. As we share his story with you, we ask that those who love him continue to add their experiences and stories of their time with him. As simple as we may believe it to be, one's self is a limitless compilation of the person we are remembered as in the minds and hearts of others.

If I had the tools to share Dad’s life with you without compartmenting it by time and place, you’d be treated to that below. For someone whose relationships rarely waned with time, memorializing his life this way may serve to fracture a legacy that never fails to remind us that our deeds are boundless and that our love is a force that transcends all else. However, as Paul would remind us, a good craftsman can be easily excused for not using the tool that he puts down and cannot find (probably because his wife moved it).

Paul was welcomed into this beautiful world by his father, William Franklin Leffler (dec.), and mother, Ruth McGee Nickerson (dec.), on January 22, 1949. A loving childhood was shared with his siblings Margaret (dec.) and Barbara, and later by his younger sister Alexa (dec). The path of Paul's life would become a reflection of his upbringing on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, his journey unfolding as softly and calmly as the quiet waves that lapped its shores and as strong as the wind that bent its reeds and tides.

His time in high school and his wanderlust in the years to follow cut an independent and adventurous mold and an appreciation for the importance of human life and dignity. Attending protests in Washington, DC, against the Vietnam War and in support of the oppressed, Paul began to balance his understanding of what was expected of his generation versus what was truly right. As the ladies in his bowling league friends expressed: “That’s Paul! He looks like a hippie, but he’s harmless”. His view of the world would continue to be colored by an appreciation of music, art, and literature.

In Annapolis and Pines on the Severn, Paul found a and left an indelible mark. A love of the water fostered endless hours of working on and enjoying Miss Lonesome and Skimmer, sailing, fishing, kayaking, and sharing time with those who were lucky enough to be by his side. If you were looking for him off the water in his younger years, I’d suggest checking a Prince George Street stoop (addresses abound). He would likely be found at McGarvey’s or the Little Campus. Later in life, he was probably watching the sunset off of Chase Creek with a beer in his hand and a fishing rod within reach.

A boundless passion for learning and creativity carried him between jobs that became interests and interests that became fascinations. His time at Russell William Ltd., Hennessy’s, Maritime Plastics, Hargrove, and moorings in between turned co-workers into lifelong friends and friends into admirers of his talent and dedication to hard work & craftsmanship. His evenings with family and friends would be centered around a creative and (albeit late) delicious menu that he never duplicated. A man emerged who was often known by his abilities but could only be understood by his passions.

Amongst the many treasures that Paul discovered in Annapolis (many of which cluttered our basement in the years to follow), the love he found with his wife Patty would outshine all the others. In the immortal words of the Eastport Oyster Boys, she was the sunlight peeking through his seams and the tongue within his groove. A love that made forty years together seem far too short cannot be captured by any medium but can be felt in the places and moments that we share together. A hike in the woods below a summer canopy, or an afternoon by the marsh watching the shorebirds collect their dinner.

In becoming a father to me, Dad furthered his legacy and gift to our lives in the only way he knew how: with unending patience and a strong, gentle love. His fascination with the natural world around him has echoed through generations and infused every aspect of my life. Whether it was a simple embrace against his flannel shirt or a steering lesson at the helm of a French canal boat, we shared a bond that will never be broken. An understanding of the importance of a father’s love was imparted effortlessly to those around him like a wake from his hull.

In passing, Paul's memory will forever be etched in the hearts of the family who carry his memory forward. A brother to Barbara, who was at his side for his first smile and final breath. A husband to Patty, whose immeasurable love was the tide that carried him to safe harbors. An uncle to Charon, Eli, Jessie, Joel, and Todd, of whom he was so proud. A father to Matthew and his wife Claire, who modeled a healthy marriage based on respect for and admiration of each other. A grandfather to Brady and Paul, whose love for their Poppy was typically exemplified by a wrestling match or a flying elbow to the gut. A loving brother-in-law to Larry & Joyce, Ron & Peggy, and MJ. A friend to Rusty & Kathy, Alex & Deb, Jake & Pat, Wayne & Leslie, Randy & Jema, Rip & Ellen, Paulette & Dave, and countless others.

As we look to tomorrow with Paul’s voice guiding our steps, I would ask all who knew him to remember the lessons my Dad imparted to me and so many others. Love gently, without hesitation or doubt. Believe in yourself, and let your passions and interests lead you through a life of purpose and wonder. Breathe slowly and remember that a life shared in the love of your friends and family will never be without beauty. Let your journey cut a wake straight and true through the river of life.

While we cannot fail to grieve our loss, I ask that you let that grief pass softly into a smile. As our good friend and neighbor Doug Colson put it so perfectly: “Our era with Paul will never end, but blend into our present and slowly become our future”.

"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die" - Joel T. Boone, Vice Admiral, US Navy

We will miss you forever, but will never for a moment be without you.

Matthew Hammond Leffler, son

• In lieu of flowers, we would ask that contributions in Paul’s memory be collected by using the link below. These will be donated in his memory to the Pines Beach & Boating Committee to further the maintenance and improvement of the community he loved so much:

o https://gofund.me/339da289

A celebration of life for Paul will be held on June 14th (time to be determined) at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.