Paul Douglas Vadnais

Paul was born in Walla Walla, WA on 4-18-42 to Elvert “Vad” Vadnais and Elizabeth “Bettie” L. (Bond) Vadnais. He was the second of three sons, including his older brother Jerry and younger brother, Roger, both of whom predeceased him. He spent his childhood in Seattle, WA and then moved to Point Loma in 1954, where he attended Point Loma High School. Paul later attended San Diego State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 1966.

From 1968-1969, he served as a U.S. Army Officer in Vietnam, where he helped to build bridges and roadways. Upon his father’s passing, Paul took over the family real estate business, Catalina Realty, where he worked as a broker and consultant from 1970 until his retirement in 2018. Catalina Realty has specialized in sales and property management in the Point Loma area continuously since 1950 and is now owned and operated by Robert Jackson.

Paul was an avid long-board surfer and skin diver in his youth. He met his wife, Carol, at a party on Mission Bay in 1970, where he was cooking fresh caught abalone. Carol didn’t care for the abalone, but she fell for Paul, and they married on 7-28-73 at La Jolla Methodist Church. After several years of living at Mission Bay, they moved to La Jolla in 1977 with their new baby, Aimee.

Paul served on many real estate committees during his career, including the Professional Standards Committee (1977-2010), the California Association of Realtors (1980-2010), the president of the Point Loma/Ocean Beach Realty Association (1980-1982), the Director of the San Diego Board of Realtors (1980-1985), and then became the President of the San Diego Board of Realtors (1986). He went on to become the Regional Vice President of the California Association of Realtors in 1988. In addition to being a real estate broker, he was an interboard arbitrator, consultant, and expert witness in the field for many years. On June 28, 2018, City Councilmember Lorie Zapf, for and on the behalf of the people of San Diego, proclaimed it to be Paul D. Vadnais Day. In 2023, Paul was awarded the first annual Lifetime Achievement Award at the Circle of Excellence ceremony for the San Diego Association of Realtors.

Paul and Carol enjoyed traveling the world together, throwing 4th of July parties at their La Jolla home overlooking multiple fireworks celebrations across the city, dining out, sunsets at the beach, listening to live music at La Jolla Cove and the San Diego Pops, and socializing with friends. He was active in the local Kiwanis club in his younger years, and the Rest and Aspiration Society for Men in his later years. Paul loved watching all types of sports, was proud of his French-Canadian and Swedish ancestry, and enjoyed mentoring others. He especially loved being a grandfather to his two grandsons.

Paul is survived by daughter Aimee Vadnais Cochrane of San Diego, two teenaged grandsons, Christopher and Nicholas, many extended family members, and close family friends, the Cochrane and Triplett families.

Private viewing is Friday, February 21st from 4-8 p.m. at El Camino Memorial Park. Celebration of Life is 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 22nd at El Camino Memorial Park. Reception to follow at 2 p.m. at the Bali Hai Restaurant.

Flowers to El Camino Memorial Park. Donations accepted in Paul’s name to the San Diego Board of Realtors.