Paul Anthony de Leon

Paul came into this world on Valentine's Day in 1945, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He spent his formative years in Minneapolis, before furthering his education in Paris and Barcelona. He then got sidetracked with the travel industry which brought him to the frigid cities of Winnipeg and later Edmonton, Alberta. He eventually woke up to the beauty of Vancouver and made it his home. It was here that he met his beloved life partner of 22 years, Randy Eng.

They shared their love of traveling, cameras, photography, relished fine dining and wines, socializing, musicals, computers to name a few. Paul may have exceeded Randy with his passion for clothes, shoes, in particular, John FlueVog, jewelry, especially bracelets and his deep love of motorcycles, either riding his own or watching and attending Formula 1 races. He had recently fulfilled his dream to own a new Ducati.

Paul and Randy travelled as often as possible around the world sharing their insatiable delight in exploring different countries, cities, cultures, and sights. The list was endless and included every continent. Some of the highlights being Australia, New Zealand, India, Galapagos, Egypt, Europe, Iceland, Chile, Argentina, Madagascar, Easter Island, Antarctica, SE Asia, Hawaii, West Coast of BC, Eastern Canada, NYC and safaris in Kenya and Tanzania. Paul took great pleasure in sharing these experiences with others, bringing back trinkets and souvenirs and regaling us with stories of their adventures.

He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, humour, and unwavering dedication to his colleagues and his work at UBC as the Director of Finance & Operations for the Department of Physics & Astronomy.

As a colleague and friend, Paul was unparalleled. His generosity knew no bounds, freely offering his assistance to anyone who sought it. In the face of daunting work challenges or system errors, he remained a pillar of calm, preserving the sanity of those around him. He was the one who would drive people home safely when they were stranded and would share treats from his lunches. His care and thoughtfulness for the department were unwavering. Paul received profound respect for everyone he worked with in Physics and throughout UBC

Paul's sense of humour was legendary. His wit was cheeky, sarcastic, and absolutely hilarious. He possessed the rare gift of finding absurdity in any situation, lifting our spirits and making us laugh, even during the most trying times. Paul had a passion for life.

Cherished by Randy, his absence is deeply felt. He also leaves behind close neighbour Marna Macdonald, a wide circle of friends, colleagues and his chosen close-knit family. We will forever remember Paul - loved, respected, missed.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation in memory of Paul, he loved his cats and dogs and supported BC Guide Dogs, Richmond Homeless Cats, Paws for Cause and the Borneo Orangutans or any similar charity of your choice.

A Memorial or Celebration of Life may be announced at a later date.