Remembering
PauL
A Collection of Moments
What you created has endured.
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remember each carved project, with your magnifying light, a precise sketch propped up on your coffee mug. You delighted in having the perfect tool making a pleasure of the challenge in hand. Your vision continues to grow and evolve even more.‌ As Myra moves forward with drive and creativity. As we all move forward, living our moments fully, appreciating you. You are always with us. You thought it, planned it and built it. A legacy of love, determination, creativity and accomplishment. – Joie June 23, 2013 For my dad, who is with me in everything I do.
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ike everyone I have so many memories and life experiences with Paul.
The one I would like to share most at this time is the first moment I saw him. He walked into my first graduate course at LIU and that moment forever planted in my memory. It remained very alive for me, it was so clear and crisp, it was etched in my mind. What I didn’t know then was I was experiencing love at first sight. That love for me never died and is with me at joyous times as well as the dark times in my life. There is not a day I don`t think of him or miss him. – Myra
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here are so many amazing memories I have of Paul. Loving, caring, nurturing and compassionate… that was my brother-in-law. He was my friend, protector, confidant and defender. Speaking for my mom and dad, he was the best son-in-law they could ask for. Oh, how they loved him!!!! My favorite times were when Myra and Paul would come to Florida 5 days out of the month. Steven and I waited with great anticipation and excitement. I’m not exaggerating when I say we had soooooo much fun and we all acted like kids. Who can forget Paul’s laugh… well it was contagious. When the 4 of us were together it seemed like any problems we were having just disappeared. One time I was facing a scary medical situation. Myra and Paul knew how scared I was. Well, expectantly they showed up at the doctor’s office. Paul came in singing loudly (not sharing the song). We all cracked up and it made a very difficult situation laughable. PAUL DEFINITELY HAD THAT ABILITY!!!! Miss you bro, it hasn’t been the same without you. – Janet
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’d love to share this image of Nikki and Paul.
It makes me so happy that she was in his life, even if it was only for a small time. Love, Amy & Dave
Memories of the Late Great Paul Schulman
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y Savior, White Knight, Extrodinary Therapist, Loyal Friend and Always… THE REAL DEAL.
I had the pleasure & honor to know Paul Schulman for 39 Years. An authentic friend… The joy was always felt when I knew I was going to spend an evening or day with Paul & Myra.. How I cherished those times and sorely miss them today. Some of the highlights throughout the years… Atlantic City, Dinners in NYC, Broadway Shows, Family Get Togethers, Peter Luger’s, Visits to Belle Harbor, Hanging out at our home in Merrick, to name a few. A very special memory, was an evening at the Opera, the first time Martin & I had ever been, it meant alot for Paul to inaugurate Martin to Opera, it was Martin’s birthday present that year.
As difficult as it was for Paul to get there and sit at the Met in our wonderful seats, it was quite tight and restricted, Paul wanted Martin to have the experience. Paul’s support, encouragement and guidance helped me to “Get A LIFE”, which I did not really experience until after I met Paul in June 1972. His expertise and insight aided in my personal journey to date. The void and sorrow continues after almost 2 years since Paul died. Paul Schulman life is not the same without you. NO ONE laughed liked Paul Schulman! With Love & Gratitude, Joan Finkelstein Cohen
The Baroness and Il Duche...
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aul had a wonderful, infectious laugh. If I close my eyes I can hear it. One night we were at Myra and Paul’s house and Paul decided I resembled Amy Irving in,” Crossing Delancy,” (of course when I was younger) Paul dubbed Amy the Pickle Baroness, hence, I became the Baroness. With that Paul started to laugh at his creation, he howled, I can still hear it! I was the Baroness forevermore. (Paul also called me the Oldest Living Teenager) – Ina
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always enjoyed the nights we would all go out for dinner and then have dessert at Myra and Paul’s house. If Paul wanted extra vodka Myra would always shoot him a look, fold her arms, make a frown, and dictate what Paul should do. I said Myra looked like Il Duche (Mussolini). Paul then began to call Myra, Il Duche, and found it quite amusing!. I was also a member, in good standing, of the “Get Paul more Vodka Club”, under Myra’s watchful nose. I miss those sweet, “magic” nights together. – Phil
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never knew what to encounter each day that I was with Paul.
One of my fondest memories was when Paul asked me to walk with him down the aisle and stand with him under the chuppa at Jan and Art’s wedding... We walked together with the bride. Oxygen tanks, folding stool and elbow in hand. It amazed and complimented me that he felt such trust and safety with me. Because that’s how I felt about him in my life. Gone, but not forgotten... Paul, my mentor, my father, my friend... Your name is always on my lips, because you are always on my mind and forever in my heart! –Carl
How we found our favorite restaurant!
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ne night Paul, Myra, Janet and I went to an Italian restaurant that Janet and I always enjoyed. I dropped the 3 of them off in front of the restaurant and went to park the car.
Little did I know that once Paul was in the restaurant for a couple of minutes, he decided that the smell of garlic was too overwhelming, so he left quickly with Myra and Janet in tow. In the meantime, I walked into Lily’s where I had dropped them off and to my surprise they weren’t there. I couldn’t imagine where they went. They were nowhere to be seen, so I called Janet on her cell. Low and behold, Paul found another Italian restaurant down the street. The 3 of them were so excited about this amazing find; they simply forgot to let me know about it!!!! I found out quickly that once the Schulman and 2 Cohen’s find a new eating experience, it becomes the topic of the evening or quite possibly the topic of the entire weekend!!! The restaurant Paul found is called Trattoria Romanas which became our favorite restaurant. Ultimately, Janet had my 60th birthday party there, Joan’s birthday celebration and my daughter’s 30th surprise birthday party. Remembering this experience has made me think about my brother-in-law and how much I miss him. – Steven
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teve and I keep trying to think of one moment with Paul but keep coming back to the same set of memories.
All the nights out together, in great restaurants, with great conversation, laughter and wonderful, warm feelings. We cherished those times. – Andrea and Steve
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oday would have been Maurice Sendak’s 85th birthday. Google has a wonderfully creative animated tribute to him replete with elements from his works. One image even includes a beautiful German Shepherd. (Sendak, it turns out, like Dad, had a fondness for Shepherds). Like Maurice Sendak and Theodore Geisel (aka, Dr. Seuss, who happened to share Dad’s March 2nd birthday), who wrote and illustrated books layered with subtlety, a slightly subversive edge, intricate detail, and a wonderful sense of humor, Dad too was enormously and thoroughly creative. Roald Dahl’s fantastical revenge fantasies illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake (whose illustrations could have been Dad’s) could have been written by Dad. These author/artists are so connected in my mind to Dad since I can remember so long ago, sitting on his lap, listening with rapt attention to his resonant, lyrical reading as he gave voice seriously and playfully to wonderful characters and narration. Illustration by Sir Quentin Blake
Illustration by Paul Schulman (l) and by Sir Quentin Blake (r).
Dad’s creativity took so many forms: drawing, sketching, painting, sculpting, designing, constructing, repairing, writing, illustrating, conceptualizing, developing, singing, composing, harmonica playing, piano playing, and all layered with subtlety, a slightly subversive edge, intricate detail, and a wonderful sense of humor. Like Sendak, Dahl, Blake, and Geisel, Dad too was highly original and one of a kind. And like Sendak, Dahl, Blake, and Geisel, he gave us, he gave me so much to admire, to respect, and to keep with me and within me for as long as I live and as long as my children live and hopefully beyond. Dad, I miss you so much. Lovingly, Lisa
Paul, know how much you loved music… we had that in common. You were very supportive of my music and pursuit of a career in it. I think that a lot of people who knew you or were close to you sought out your approval, whether consciously or not, and felt somehow given a gift when you liked something they said, did, or created. For a while, I was singing backup with in a band in support of a woman singer songwriter. We were performing at the Bitter End in the village. I was very flattered and pleased that you wanted to attend, but like everything involving you, a little scared also… that you wouldn’t like it… that the music would be too loud… that something might upset you. The set went very well, and afterward you gushed about how great everything was in a totally uncomplicated, straightforward way and I was very happy. I was happy and pleased that you liked it, but also saw you differently after that. I realized that you respected me and what I was doing and that you liked to have a good time like everybody did. Your pedestal got a little shorter that night and you became less out of reach to me, more accessible, more understandable. Less of a mystery.
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For me this was a watershed in our relationship. I could relax with you and not feel I had to be on guard. I was accepted. I’m sure I was accepted by you before that, but this was when I felt it. So, even though you are not still physically with us, you still support me. I still feel and appreciate that acceptance and warmth, though (and this is a good thing I think), you still instill a little mystery and wonderment in me. That you could find the strength to survive with so much against you, that you could care about us even when it was such a struggle to care for yourself. So, here and now, I celebrate the mystery of you and the opportunity to experience it. – Eliot
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hen I was young, I tried to spend as much time around my father as possible. I was very proud to be known as his “left-handed, right-hand daughter.” I hoped that the nickname had meant I was as important to him as a son; one who would have learned all about his interests. I guess I was just trying to capture his attention – to be near him. I would often watch him work on his boat or do his woodcrafts. I truly believed he could do anything. I’d listen to him play the piano and spice things up with one of his many harmonicas. I would watch and watch and try to take in as much of what he was explaining as I could… so I could emulate him and make him proud of me. Of course, I am not denying there were many turbulent times between the two of us, but we weathered all those complicated dynamics and were the better for it. Truth be told, I have used the skills that I learned by watching him to help me manage until this very day. From building my own bedroom furniture for my first apartment or working in very varied positions without a doubt in my mind that I could. He taught me that.
I know people have been confused by our relationship; how we could have fought so bitterly, been estranged for long periods of time, and yet have been so fortunate to have used all those experiences to find a unique and wonderful connection. I guess that’s really what I had wanted from the very beginning. It just took me a very winding path to find that out. We were so blessed to find that connection in life and I feel continually reminded that the connection remains constant whether we are on the same plane or not. I have been very ambivalent about writing my feelings down on paper. I haven’t even been able to look through the LEGACY website my dear sister created nearly two years ago. I feel so indelibly connected to my father (even in death) that I have managed to keep him with me. It didn’t seem right to read about him like he was gone. Yet, two years have actually passed since I touched him and saw his smile. I felt his loss most acutely since storm Sandy ravaged Rockaway. I know it would have broken his heart to see his workshop destroyed. But, in spite of the loss, I know he would have given me a sense of stability in the face of the unthinkable. Frankly, nothing could ever destroy the strong sense of his presence around me. – Sara
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ithout explanation this picture is pretty meaningless; it’s a T-rex, what more is there to it? However, this picture holds a lot of meaning for me. At around this time, I began an email chain with Pop pop that lasted quite a while. The subject? Just sharing art. I drew this picture to try and emulate his unique style of artwork out of admiration and appreciation for everything he did. His encouragement led me to continue drawing things and sending them to him, and the ability has opened many doors for me creatively. It has strongly influenced my choice of career, for example. However, it wasn’t just this. Pop pop helped me along the way with any passion I wanted to pursue. I showed an interest in Thomas the Tank Engine, Legos, video games, the Hardy Boys, etc., and he provided the means above and beyond what anyone else might do. Obviously not all of these passions lasted forever, but they have all played a part in shaping who I am. I can with full conviction say that without Pop pop, I would be on a much different path. Thank you for everything. – Michael, your Budj
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y memory of PopPop is of the Sunday nights
When he would come over to our house, he always had time for a martini and card games with me. It made me feel special when he would say to me, “Up for a game of cards, my Purple Princess?” And I loved that reserved time with him. – Natalie Kate Cohen
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ne memory of PopPop was when he was sitting at the computer.
It almost felt like he was ignoring me. I turned around and left the room. As I left, I felt strange. PopPop?! Ignoring moi!? I went upstairs. Later, at dinner, he said to me, “Why didn’t you say “Hello,” to me?“ while winking. I felt reassured. –Adam Cohen
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have neither wise words nor great photographic talent to share with you. But for what it’s worth, I thought I’d send these two pics as they always make me smile when I come across them. In the first, of Paul, he was telling a story that had made him laugh so much he was in tears. I only wish I could remember what the story was about. The second, of Myra and Paul, makes me smile because it’s just how I remember them at those wonderful Sunday dinners I was lucky enough to have at Sara’s. I miss and love you all. – Anna X