Dan Paradies

Dan Paradies, 92, of Atlanta, Georgia and Longboat Key, Florida, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2014.

Dan was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1921. Dan Paradies was a "larger than life" presence, memorable to just about everyone he ever met. He was charming, charismatic, witty, and truly loved people. He lived life to the fullest from the beginning until the very end of his life.

Dan was the son of I.J. and Sara Paradies. He graduated from Boys High School in Atlanta and attended the University of Virginia before volunteering to join the United States Army Air Corps with the advent of World War II. Dan served his country with honor for four years and attained the rank of lieutenant, piloting B-17 aircraft. On one fateful day Dan had an experience that would define and shape his life. While flying formation a plane veered too close to Dan's causing a midair collision. Dan was forced from the plane upon impact and woke up in midair just in time to deploy his parachute. He landed in a field and a farmer passing by picked up Dan and took him to the hospital where he remained for one month of convalescence. Of the five airmen Dan Paradies was the sole survivor of this tragic accident. After his near death experience Dan vowed he would share his good fortune with as many people as he could – and during the remainder of his life he fulfilled this promise. (insert Dan Pilot photo)

After the war, Dan returned to Atlanta to join the family business Paradies and Company, the largest wholesale distributor in the south east for toys and housewares. Dan worked in his father’s company for many years until a business opportunity arose when his friendship with Atlanta Mayor Bill Hartsfield spurred an invitation to open a single toy and gift shop at the then-named Atlanta Municipal Airport. In 1960 Dan founded the new company, The Paradies Shops. Today the company operates in excess of 500 shops in 75 locations throughout the United States and Canada, with over 5,000 employees. The Paradies Shops has enjoyed over 50 years of consecutive sales growth.

Throughout his career, Dan worked tirelessly and lovingly for the company he founded. As President and CEO until his retirement in 1994, Dan’s devotion to the business was evident in every aspect of his life. He was named Georgia’s Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2003 the company received the prestigious “Family Business of the Year” award. Every year since 2005 the company has been named one of the “Top 100 Private Businesses in Georgia”.

Once retired he began his philanthropic activities or as Dan referred to it his “other job”. For many years at Paradies and Company and later at The Paradies Shops, Dan worked tirelessly to lobby toy manufacturers to donate to the United States Marines “Toys for Tots” Christmas Campaign. Dan could be found on many Christmas Eves personally delivering toys to children of needy families in the Atlanta area. In one year alone Dan had his company personally donate 10,000 toys and lobbied for 50,000 more from the toy manufacturers that were his providers.

In Sarasota, Florida, he established the Daniel M. Paradies Foundation, which supports the following organizations: The Sarasota Ballet, through the Billie and Dan Paradies Education Wing at the Florida State University (FSU) Center for the Performing Arts; Ringling College of Art and Design, through the Billie and Dan Paradies Endowed Scholarship; Goldie Feldman Academy, through educational scholarships; the Sarasota/Manatee Jewish Housing Council; Gulf Coast Community Foundation, for establishment of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation Philanthropy Center; Perlman Music Program/Suncoast; Breast Health Sarasota; and Bike and Build, Inc.

In Atlanta, in addition to his regular contributions to Ahavath Achim Synagogue with which he has had a lengthy relationship, his Daniel M. Paradies Foundation provides college scholarships to worthy students in financial need; to the Zaban Couples Center, Inc. of Atlanta and to the Jewish Federation of Atlanta.

Dan was preceded in death by his wife Billie Paradies. Survivors include his brother James Paradies of Atlanta; his sisters Doris Haber of Houston; and Janice Paradies Shoob of Atlanta; his sons Major Richard Paradies of Atlanta and Jed Paradies of Tucson; his grandchildren Logan Paradies of Atlanta; and Julia, Jacob, and Siena Paradies of Tucson; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Dan’s life is planned for Friday afternoon the 2nd of May at one o’clock at Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue, Atlanta 30327. Friends are invited to Paradies Hall at the Synagogue prior to the service to greet the family.

The family prefers that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to The William Bremen Jewish Home, 3150 Howell Mill Road NW Atlanta 30327.